China Calls for Direct Talks on DPRK Nuclear Issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 22, 2003

China Calls for Direct Talks on DPRK Nuclear Issue

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Tuesday called for "early and direct'' dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington to solve the nuclear issue blighting the Korean peninsula.

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Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Tuesday called for "early and direct'' dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington to solve the nuclear issue blighting the Korean peninsula.

"We maintain that dialogue is the only way out, the only effective way,'' the spokeswoman said.

"We adopt a positive attitude towards any suggestion that is conducive to peace and stability on the peninsula.''

Zhang noted that the relevant sides should resume dialogue directly at the earliest opportunity.

When asked for China's reaction to Washington's intention to take the issue to the United Nations Security Council, Zhang said: "China hopes the parties concerned will try to solve the issue through dialogue without making it more complicated.''

Zhang said last week that China may offer to host any talks between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

But Pyongyang has instead expressed a preference for unconditional, face-to-face talks with Washington.

Also Tuesday, Alexander Losyukov, the Russian presidential envoy to Pyongyang on the nuclear issue, returned to Beijing and met Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang.

Losyukov briefed Yang about his four-day visit to Pyongyang. Both agreed the problem should be resolved peacefully and through dialogue to prevent a further escalation of the situation.

Losyukov made a stopover in Beijing last Friday before going Pyongyang and also met Yang then. Losyukov is expected to leave for Moscow Wednesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said in New York on Monday that China has always sought a solution to differences through political and diplomatic means.

China stands for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone on the Korean peninsula, he said.

Direct dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington is the key to any solution to issues concerning the Korean peninsula, Tang said.

He added that this is precious experience China has drawn from dealing with situations on the peninsula.

He stressed that any constructive proposals and solutions must meet two prerequisites: they should be conducive to peace and stability on the peninsula and be in the interests of all the relevant parties; and the other relevant parties should approach Pyongyang first to get its consent.

On the Iraq issue, Tang said the submission of the formal report by United Nations weapons inspectors next Monday will mark a new beginning for the inspection process, rather than the end.

Answering questions from reporters before attending the UN Security Council ministerial meeting on the fight against terrorism, Tang said both chief inspectors -- Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei -- had expressed a need for more time because there is much more to do. "We should respect their opinion and support their work,'' he said.

UN inspections have been proceeding well, and this should be affirmed, he noted.

But he stressed that an objective, impartial and respectful attitude towards the assessment of the inspectors' work should be adopted so that inspections can continue in a more effective way.

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