Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Friday said "there is no other choice but diplomacy" when addressing the Korean peninsular nuclear issue.

"The Korean peninsular nuclear issue now stands at the crossroad and what course to follow is directly related to the peace and stability in east Asia and the world at large," Wen told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"There is no other choice but diplomacy and dialogue," Wen said.

Prior to the meeting, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with Rice.

"Fortunately, my visit North Korea this time has not been in vain," Tang told Rice at the start of their meeting.

Tang, who visited Pyongyang as special envoy of President Hu Jintao on Wednesday and Thursday, conveyed Hu's message to North Korea leader Kim Jong Il during the visit.

In talks with her Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing, Rice said they talked about "the importance of leaving open a path of negotiations of the six-party talks."

The six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue remained stalled since the last round of meeting was held in Beijing last November.

The last round of talks, involving China, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, ended up with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.

Rice came to the Chinese capital amid international efforts to ease the tension arising from the North Korea nuclear test on October 9.

China is the third leg of Rice's four-nation tour, which has taken her to Japan and South Korea. She is also scheduled to visit Russia following her China trip.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2006)