Liu told a press conference in Beijing the priority was to resume talks, and that all sides had an interest in seeing this happen.

He said China was consulting closely with other parties, but sustained and determined efforts were still needed.

He said "positive signals" had emerged recently, including a consensus by the countries involved in the six-way talks - the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - to resume dialogue, but said the countries still disagreed about how this should be done.

Liu said the next step was to find an acceptable way forward for all sides through close communication and negotiation.

Liu also said that the DPRK told State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan during his visit last week that it had no plans for a second nuclear test, and was willing to resume six-party talks.

Tang visited the DPRK as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao, and met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Liu said UN sanctions recently adopted against North Korea were not a goal in themselves but were to help resolve the nuclear issue through diplomatic channels, such as dialogue and negotiation, in order to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

He said all sides should not arbitrarily extend sanctions, and avoid confrontation.

Liu reaffirmed China's adherence to the resolution, saying that China would "fully and firmly implement the resolution", and had prepared a series of measures to do this.

Liu said adherence to the resolution was in China's interests, and the Chinese government would counter any actions in China that contravened the resolution, Liu said.

Liu said that aid China gives to North Korea was to improve living conditions and was a plank of China's policy to help preserve stability on the peninsula.

Liu said frontier control measures on the North Korean border ensured peace and stability in the area, and no link should be made with the situation on the peninsula.

He also announced that UN Secretary General-designate Ban Ki-Moon would visit China from Friday to Saturday at the invitation of the Chinese government.

Liu said Ban was expected to meet Hu and Tang and hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.