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China Welcomes DPRK's Efforts to Improve Ties with Western Countries
China supports efforts by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to improve relations with all countries, including the Western countries, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.
The spokesman, Sun Yuxi, who is accompanying Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on his visit in South Korea, made the remark in reaction to an announcement made by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook about Britain's desire to establish diplomatic ties with the DPRK.
He told Xinhua that China welcomes the recent positive developments on the Korean Peninsula.
"Our consistent policy on the Korean Peninsula has been to maintain peace and stability. We continue to hold a welcome and supporting attitude toward anything conducive to peace and stability on the peninsula," he said.
The spokesman said that improving relations between the DPRK and other countries, especially the Western countries, play a positive and constructive role in maintaining development and stability on the peninsula.
When asked whether the normalization of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Western countries will have any effect on the Sino-Korean relations, the spokesman said that if there is an effect, it will be a positive one.
Establishing diplomatic ties between the DPRK and the Western countries, including Britain, is simply a matter between the two concerned parties, he said. "We support it because it is good for the Korean peninsula."
When talking about whether Chinese leaders plan to visit the DPRK, the spokesman said the leaders of the two countries have a tradition of high-level exchange visits.
When visiting China earlier this year, DPRK leader Kim Jung Il invited Chinese leaders to visit his country, and the Chinese side accepted the invitation, he said.
"But the date will be discussed and set through diplomatic channels. If there is a decision in this regard, we will announce it at an appropriate time," the spokesman said.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook announced, after arriving for the third Asia-Europe Meeting, that his country would send a " positive signal" to the DPRK in response to the DPRK's request for establishing diplomatic relations.
Last month, DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent letters to Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and the European Union, calling for establishment of diplomatic relations with them.
Since the beginning of this year, the DPRK has established diplomatic relations with Italy, Australia and the Philippines.
Canada is reportedly talking with the DPRK, and a senior German Foreign Ministry official is also in Pyongyang holding talks with his counterpart on issues of common interest.
Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok of the DPRK visited Washington last month as a special envoy of DPRK leader Kim Jung Il. Kim had held a historic summit in June this year in Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK, with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, that brought about a more stable situation on the Korean Peninsula.
US State Secretary Madeleine Albright has announced her plan to travel to DPRK by the end of this month to pave the way for a proposed visit by US President Bill Clinton.
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