China, Russia: Solve peninsula nuclear issue peacefully
By WANG LINYAN and HONG XIAO at the United Nations | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-09-19 11:13
China and Russia agreed that the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue must be solved through peaceful means, according to a statement released on Monday by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the road map jointly proposed by China and Russia is "realistic and feasible", and both sides need more understanding and support from the international community.
Wang made the remarks during his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York on Monday during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.
The joint initiative issued on July 4 is based on China's proposal for a dual-track approach and "suspension for suspension initiative" and Russia's step-by-step approach.
China will continue to strictly implement the UN Security Council resolutions and shoulder due international obligations, while other relevant parties should assume their responsibilities and play their roles in the peninsula nuclear situation, Wang said in the statement.
The "worsening vicious cycle" must be broken, he said, adding that resumption of dialogue and negotiation is also necessary part of implementing the resolutions.
China urged for calm from all relevant parties on Sept 13 as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea rejected the latest UN Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions in response to its Sept 3 nuclear test.
Lavrov said Russia shares China's stance on the peninsula nuclear issue, and China and US need to jointly push for efforts to solve the issue peacefully, according to the statement.
Wang expressed appreciation for Russia's contribution to the recent ninth BRICS Summit in Xiamen earlier this month. He said both sides need to be well-prepared for a series of important high-level exchanges this year and push for more concrete achievements in bilateral relations.
Lavrov said Russia is willing to deepen strategic collaboration with China in the framework of BRICS, the UN and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.