Tri-party talks centering on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear issue will continue to be helpful in progressing the matter, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday.

She said priority should be given to push for future tri-party talks between China, the DPRK and the United States.

Zhang made the remarks Tuesday during a regular news briefing.

Nevertheless, she did not rule out the possibility of including other groups in future discussions.

Zhang said China welcomes any suggestions that will lead to positive results.

Delegations from China, the DPRK and the US held a three-day meeting in Beijing in April, bringing the two rivals over the issue -- the DPRK and the US -- to the negotiation table for the first time since tension escalated in October.

Tuesday, Zhang also urged Taiwan not to interfere with the normal functions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by attempting separatist activities.

Zhang noted that Taiwan, on several occasions, had made use of the titles of its representatives to the WTO to attempt to bring about "one China, one Taiwan'' and "two Chinas.'' She said the actions have violated a 1992 chairman's statement from the WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

Zhang said Taiwan's actions were also opposed by other members.

Under the chairman's statement, Taiwan was only able to accede to the GATT as a separate customs territory after the People's Republic of China.

It joined the WTO as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen and Mazu at the beginning of last year, nearly one month after Beijing became a full member.

The spokeswoman took the opportunity yesterday to say China is grieving over the crash of the Ukrainian Yak-42 plane in Turkey's Trabzon, which killed 62 Spanish peacekeepers and its crew.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has already expressed his condolences to his Spanish and Ukrainian counterparts in relation to the tragedy.