China will continue to work for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia and to facilitate the talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Tuesday afternoon.

"China has maintained communication and coordination with all parties involved for the early resumption of the six-party talks," Li told a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the 10th National People's Congress, China 's top legislature.

He didn't directly answer the question of a correspondent from the Republic of Korea (ROK) whether the six-party talks will resume before Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States scheduled for April.

The six-party talks, which aim to find a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan. The talks have so far been held for five rounds in Beijing.

Calling the joint statement issued last year following the fourth-round talks a "hard-won result that should be cherished," Li said China believes that as long as all parties have sincerity, demonstrate flexibility and have the overall security situation of Northeast Asia in mind, the negotiation will "achieve positive progress gradually."

"We hope all parties concerned can adhere to dialogue and consultation, take more confidence-building steps, and be both pragmatic and flexible to implement the joint statement," the minister urged.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)