Xi says China will stick to denuclearization of Korean peninsula

Want China Times, Xinhua 2013-10-07

Chinese president Xi Jinping, center, in Bali on Oct. 6. (Photo/CNS)

China's president, Xi Jinping, said in Bali on Monday that his country will stick to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and safeguard its peace and stability.

China insists that problems should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, Xi said during talks with his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, ahead of the 21st informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated for Monday and Tuesday on Indonesia's resort island of Bali.

Beijing will firmly support the efforts to improve ties between Seoul and Pyongyang, Xi said. He pointed out that there has been a momentum of relaxation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, and the relations between South and North Korea have made some progress over the past four months.

Xi expressed the hope that relevant parties could work together, accumulate consensus and create favorable conditions, so as to restart the six-party talks at an early date and push forward the Korean peninsula denuclearization process through dialogue and consultation rather than armed confrontation.

China is ready to maintain communication, coordination and cooperation with South Korea, he added.

For her part, Park thanked China for the constructive role it plays in the improvement of relations between her country and North Korea and in the Korean peninsula denuclearization. South Korea is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China, Park said.

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