China urges improved ties for restarting Six-Party Talks

BEIJING - China called on parties concerned to further improve their relations so as to create conditions for restarting the Six-Party Talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said here Tuesday.

Hong made the remark at a press conference when asked to comment on the attitudes of two special envoys from the US and the Republic of Korea(ROK) towards the resumption of the talks.

The US special representative for policy on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Glyn Davies and his ROK counterpart Cho Tae-yong said on Tuesday that it is not the right time for heads of the six-party talks to gather due to Pyongyang's persistent claims as a nuclear power.

Hong said China has always advocated adherence to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining peace and stability of the region and resolving related issues through dialogue and consultation.

He said all relevant parties should further improve their relations.

The spokesman called on parties concerned to jointly create conditions for restarting the talks and stick to resolving related issues within the framework of the talks.

The six-party talks, which groups China, Russia, the United States, DPRK, ROK and Japan, have been stalled since late 2008.