President Hu Jintao reiterated yesterday that China, together
with all parties concerned, is willing to play a constructive role in reviving
the stalled Six-Party Talks.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes
hands with North Korean Premier Pak Pong-ju at the Fujian Hall in the
Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 23, 2005.
[Reuters] |
Hu made the remarks when meeting with visiting Pak
Bong-ju, premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Hu said that dialogue is the only correct choice for peacefully resolving the
nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
"It is in our common interests to stick to a nuclear: weapon-free Korean
Peninsula, resolve DPRK's rational concerns, and maintain peace and stability on
the peninsula," Hu said. China will continue to work for the resumption of the
Six-Party Talks, which aim to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue but
which came to a standstill last September.
Hu said the talks' aims tally with the common interests of all sides: To
resolve the concerns of DPRK as well to maintain a peaceful and stable
nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula.
"China will continue to promote peaceful negotiation, which is the only
proper option in dealing with nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula," Hu added.
Pak expressed appreciation towards China's efforts in safeguar-ding the peace
and stability of the Korean Peninsula, and said the DPRK would like to learn
from China's experience of reforms in national development.
After their meeting, talks were also held between Pak and Jia Qinglin,
chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference.
President Hu and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il have reached an important consensus
on bilateral ties and many other issues of common concern, Jia said, adding that
it is in the common interests of both sides to consolidate and develop their
friendship.
The DPRK highly appreciates China's policy of friendship and is ready to join
hands with China to make unremitting efforts to expand the friendship forged by
the previous leaders, Pak said.
On Tuesday, Pak told his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, in Beijing that the
DPRK would join Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue "at any time" if conditions
proved to be right.