Foreign and Military Affairs

China urges dialogue on Korean Peninsula situation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-17 16:42

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao Monday called on concerned parties to work to resume the process of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula situation, taking the opportunity that there have been signs of relaxation on the peninsula.

"We hope that the relevant parties will seize the opportunity to engage in active interactions, resume the process of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, and ensure that the situation on the peninsula will move forward in a positive direction," said Hu in a written interview with US Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

President Hu is due to pay a state visit to the United States from Tuesday to Friday.

Hu said China has maintained close contact and coordination with other parties and made relentless efforts to help ease the tension and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.

China has urged the North and the South to be calm and exercise restraint, refrain from any action which might escalate tension and undermine peace and stability on the peninsula, and enter into dialogue and contact as quickly as possible to seek an appropriate solution, Hu said.

Hu that China has also called on relevant parties to work to ease tension and contribute to peace and stability on the peninsula.

"Thanks to joint efforts by China and other parties, there have been signs of relaxation," Hu said.

Hu said China hopes that the North and the South will improve relations and achieve reconciliation and cooperation through dialogue and consultation and eventually realize independent and peaceful reunification.

Hu reiterated that China actively advocates and promotes the six-party talks process, hoping the parties concerned would take active measures and create conditions for the resumption of talks.

The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, which have been stalled for about two years, group China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.

"I am convinced that as long as the parties respect each other, engage in consultation on an equal footing, and implement the September 19 Joint Statement in a comprehensive and balanced way through the Six-Party Talks, they will arrive at an appropriate solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and contribute to lasting peace and stability on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia," said Hu.