Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Wednesday it is time for all parties to work even harder to push forward the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

"The Chinese side will play a constructive role in realizing Korean Peninsula denuclearization, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and achieving harmony in northeast Asia," Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

He said all parties should be patient, creative and make concerted efforts to implement the Second-Phase Actions for the Implementation of the Joint Statement of Sept. 19, 2005.

China is aware that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan will soon be meeting in a third country, said Yang.

"We hope their meeting will help improve U.S.-DPRK relations and push forward the six-party talks," he said.

The minister also voiced China's warm congratulations to President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea (ROK), who swore in the 17th ROK president in February.

China is willing to work together with the ROK side to step up their comprehensive and cooperative partnership, which is under stable development and is in line with the fundamental interests of their people, said Yang.

He said the two countries are ready to enhance high-level exchanges and communication, further expand trade and economic cooperation, deepen cooperation in science and technology, culture, education and health sectors, and step up their coordination in international and regional affairs.

China's relations with DPRK is also "on the track of normal development", Yang said in response to a question raised by an ROK reporter.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2008)