Hu says China opposes any action that may worsen Korean Peninsula situation

China opposes any action that may worsen the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and hopes all relevant parties can act in a way conducive to the stability of the peninsula, President Hu Jintao said on Tuesday.

Hu made the remarks when meeting with visiting Vice President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Yang Hyong Sop Tuesday afternoon.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China is "seriously concerned" since "some new complicating factors" appeared on the Korean Peninsula.

"China has always been committed to maintaining the peace and stability on the peninsula, and insisted on resolving the relevant issues through peaceful dialogues and negotiations", Hu said.

Responding to Hu's views, Yang said that the DPRK will also work to safeguard the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The DPRK side highly values its friendship with the Chinese people and will continue to make joint efforts with China to further boost bilateral relations, Yang noted.

Hu also called on the parties that are involved in the six-party talks "to overcome current difficulties" to promote the talks.

China hopes to make concerted efforts with the concerned parties to take the overall situation as a priority, Hu said, urging to create favorable conditions to promote the talks in a bid to safeguard the peace and stability on the peninsula and in northeast Asia.

The six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, have remained stalled since the last round of meeting was held in Beijing last November.

On bilateral ties, Hu said leaders of the two countries have conducted exchange of visits in recent years, and reached important understanding on pushing forward bilateral traditional friendship and on cooperation.

Under new circumstances, China will work with the DPRK to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in the spirit of inheriting the tradition and facing the future, Hu said.

He stressed that the Chinese side will work with the DPRK side to further implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, continue to enhance bilateral substantial cooperation in various fields and make new efforts to maintain the peace, stability and boost development in the region and the world as a whole.

Yang echoed Hu's views, saying that the DPRK side highly values the friendship with the Chinese people and will continue to make joint efforts to further boost bilateral relations.

Yang also expressed his delight to visit China and to learn about the achievements China has scored in its development, especially at a moment when bilateral relationship continues to boom.

Yang's five-day visit comes when China and the DPRK are holding commemorations in Beijing Tuesday to mark the anniversary of a friendship treaty, with Yang present on the occasion.

Besides his meeting with Hu, Yang will also meet with Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo.

China on Monday introduced a draft UN Security Council presidential statement on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for the concerned parties to work together on the early resumption of the six-party talks on Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

"China would like to work with the parties concerned to resume the six-party talks as soon as possible," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press briefing Tuesday.

As the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula has prolonged for more than five decades, it is impossible to resolve the issue through one or two visits, the spokeswoman said.

"The diplomatic efforts take time, thus all parties should be patient and play constructive roles," Jiang said.

Source: Xinhua