Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush discussed
by phone the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula Thursday evening.
Hu told Bush that China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula and opposed to any actions that might intensify the
situation, according to a statement from the China's Foreign Ministry.
Bush said the United States was concerned about the current situation on the
Korean Peninsula.
"The United States still adheres to the commitment of resolving the Korean
Peninsula issue by diplomatic means", Bush was quoted as saying.
Hu said China is "deeply concerned" over the current situation. "Under such a
complicated situation, it is highly necessary for all the related parties to
keep calm and show restraint."
China is willing to keep negotiations with related parties on this issue, he
said.
It is of vital importance for the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free Korean
Peninsula and the maintenance of peace and stability on the peninsula to fully
implement the Joint Statement, adopted at the end of the fourth round of
six-party talks in September last year, Hu said.
He called on all parties concerned to create conditions for the resumption of
the six-party talks at an early date.
Bush said the United States appreciated efforts China has made to keep the
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The United States would like to keep communications with China, Bush said.
Christopher Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State, will visit China on
Friday to talk with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on how to promote the
six-party talks under the current situation.
"China is willing to negotiate with the United States on maintaining peace
and stability in northeast Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu
said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.
She reiterated China's deep concern over the tension caused by the missile
tests, hoping the parties concerned to keep calm and exercise restraint and
avoid actions that could further intensify and complicate the situation.
The UN Security Council met Wednesday for an emergency meeting to discuss the
missile tests by the DPRK, which reportedly launched seven missiles on Wednesday
morning.
Jiang said China hopes that the UN response to the missile tests should be
helpful to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on July 5 discussed the situation of the
Korean Peninsula with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a phone
conversation.
"The two sides have exchanged views on the missile test-firing by the DPRK,"
Jiang said, adding they agreed to keep in contact with each other on this issue.
Li also talked over phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Aso Taro, Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Ban Ki-Moon and Australian
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Wednesday respectively.
They exchanged views on the latest development of the situation on the Korean
Peninsula, Jiang said.