Chinese Vice FM to Visit US for DPRK Nuclear Issue

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, July 18, 2003

Chinese Vice FM to Visit US for DPRK Nuclear Issue

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo left for the United States Thursday afternoon to exchange views on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue with the US side, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan Thursday.

Kong told a regular press conference that Dai will hold talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell during his two day stay inthe United States.

Since the DPRK nuclear issue is a common concern, China's stance can be summarized as being a mediator to promote dialogue and cool both sides down, said Kong.

China will make unremitting, active, responsible and constructive efforts for resolving the issue, the spokesman added.

Kong said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Powell fixedDai's visit to the United States during phone talks held Wednesday.

China's efforts to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue can be embodied in Dai's visits to the DPRK and Russia and his upcoming visit to the United States, as well as in Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to the United States, Kong said.

China urges DPRK, ROK to remain calm

China urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to show restraint after their frontier clash to avoid escalation of the conflict.

Kong Quan said China hopes the two sides can stay calm and stop the situation from deteriorating further.

Security guards from the ROK and DPRK briefly exchanged fire in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two sides about 6:10 am yesterday. But there were no casualties on the ROK side, according to the ROK military. The shootout took place at Yoncheon, in the central part of the DMZ.

DPRK soldiers started the shootout by firing what appeared to be four machine gun rounds at a concrete barrier around a ROK guard post, then the ROK soldiers fired back 17 rifle rounds, the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

JCS said "according to the codes of engagement with the enemy, we broadcast warnings and returned fire." It was not known if there were casualties among DPRK ranks.

It is the first land border clash since November 27, 2001 when soldiers of both sides exchanged fire. Last June the navies of the two sides clashed in the Yellow Sea, in which our ROK soldiers lost their

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese Vice FM's Visit to DPRK Important, Beneficial

Kim Jong Il Meets Chinese Special Envoy

Major Milestone for China's Car Industry ( 3 Messages)

Scholars, or Trouble Makers?--People's Observation ( 64 Messages)

Why Renminbi Not to Be Revalued, Chief Economist of Morgan Stanley ( 19 Messages)

US Steps up Relations with Taiwan: Commentary ( 11 Messages)

Requisite Silence Self-discipline of the Media ( 2 Messages)