China and the United States have agreed that the nuclear issue of
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be resolved
through diplomatic efforts and dialogue, and the two sides will
continue contact on the issue, said Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Thursday.
Kong said at a regular press conference that Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Wang Yi's current visit to the United States has helped
increase mutual understanding between China and the United
States.
Wang started his four-day visit to the United States on July
1,during which he exchanged views with the US side on the situation
in Asia, particularly that in the Korean Peninsula.
According to the spokesman, Wang held meetings with US Secretary of
State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice,
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Lee Armitage, Undersecretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs John
Robert Bolton, and Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Paul
V. Kelly on July 1.
Kong said Wang reiterated China's stance on the DPRK nuclear issue
to the US side, urging the maintenance of peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula, while keeping the peninsula free of nuclear
weapons. Wang also said the DPRK's proper concerns over security
should be addressed, according to Kong.
Wang said Beijing talks should continue and the two sides had
discussions in this regard, according to Kong.
According to Kong, during Wang's visit, the US side expressed
appreciation for China's efforts in promoting the talks in Beijing
and also expressed willingness to keep the direction of a peaceful
solution of the issue.
Kong said the DPRK nuclear issue involves the region and China
welcomes the fact that all sides stand for settling the issue
peacefully through diplomatic efforts and dialogue.
Kong said Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo is
visiting Russia, and will exchange views on the DPRK nuclear issue
with the Russian side.
This not only shows that China and Russia keep close consultation,
contacts, cooperation and coordination on major international and
regional issues, and but also that the two sides share a common
stance on the DPRK nuclear issue, said Kong.
Kong said China's attitude towards the number of participants of
the talks in Beijing is open and flexible and China believes the
result of the talks is far more important than its forms.
Kong said China will certainly continue its efforts for the
peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and
also hopes to garner support from all relevant sides.
Under the current situation, China also hopes all sides will keep
calm and show restraint and not take any action to make the
situation worse, said Kong.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2003)