BEIJING, April 22 -- China welcomes the resumption of Yemen peace talks, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

The UN-sponsored peace talks between Yemen's rival forces began in Kuwait on Thursday, according to Kuwait's state radio.

"China welcomes resumption of the Yemen peace talks and expects relevant parties to find a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties through dialogue to restore security, stability and normal order in Yemen," said spokesperson Hua Chunying at a regular press conference.

The talks came after a three-day delay as warring parties traded accusations over truce breaches and differences in the talk agenda. The talks involve the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Sunni government headed by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Shiite Houthi militia as well as its ally, forces loyal to ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The crisis in Yemen started in 2011, when Saleh was forced to step down from his 33-year rule and handed power to his then-deputy Hadi as part of a wave of protests and political turmoil that swept the Arab world.