China supported the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States keeping contact and deemed the U.S. chief nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill's DPRK visit as beneficial, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula has achieved important progress through the concerted efforts by all the parties involved, but it also arrives at a crucial point to make further developments," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters at a regular briefing.

Chinese top nuclear negotiator and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met Hill on Oct. 4 in Beijing and listened to a briefing of his three-day visit to the DPRK. Hill had substantive and lengthy talks with DPRK officials.

Qin said it was in accord with the interests of all the parties to push forward the progress of the talks, realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintain the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian region.

"China will continue to keep close communication and coordination with the other parties, so as to fulfill the second-phase actions in a comprehensive and balanced way at an early date."

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2008)