China Backs Nuclear-free Korean Peninsula: FM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 11, 2003

China Backs Nuclear-free Korean Peninsula: FM

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China stands for the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and firmly insists on maintaining peace and stability in the region and resolving the issue peacefully through dialogue.

China is willing to work with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enrich cooperative partnership and to make more contributions to the development and peace of the two countries and the region.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made the remarks Thursday when meeting his ROK counterpart Yoon Young-kwan.

Li stressed the security of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be ensured, urging all concerned not to take any moves that could escalate the tension.

Yoon arrived in Beijing Thursday for a three-day visit to China. His visit came after the United Nations (UN) Security Council met to discuss the nuclear stand-off on Wednesday.

Shortly before the council convened, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Washington and Pyongyang to resume dialogue and resolve the nuclear dispute peacefully.

Yoon said that the ROK, being a major player on the peninsula, would continue to promote exchanges and co-operation between the South and the North and make efforts to maintain a nuclear-free peninsula.

The DPRK announced its withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which formally took effect this week under relevant provisions.

The DPRK reactivated its nuclear facilities and said it was hit by an energy crunch after the United States scrapped an earlier agreement and stopped providing it with fuel late last year.

In February, the International Atomic Energy Agency declared the DPRK violated the UN nuclear safeguards provisions and referred the nuclear issue to the Security Council.

The DPRK has voiced strong opposition to internationalizing the issue and declared any decision to impose sanctions on it would be viewed as a "declaration of war."

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday at a regular briefing that China disapproves of the development of nuclear weapons on the peninsula as well as the DPRK withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

He said parties in the region should resume negotiations as quickly as possible to resolve the nuclear issue on the peninsula.

The two foreign ministers also expressed satisfaction with the continuous growth of bilateral relations over the past few years during their talks Thursday.

Li pointed out the growth of bilateral relations has contributed positively to peace, stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

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