FM urges early resumption of six-party talks

UNITED NATIONS - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday that an early resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is in the interests of all sides.

Wang made the appeal at a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

China, Wang said, stands ready to work with South Korea to build up consensus and create conditions for the resumption of the six-party talks so as to facilitate the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and safeguard regional peace and stability.

Beijing maintains that reasonable concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be addressed in the process, said the Chinese minister.

He added that China supports Seoul's trust-building measures and hopes for better North-South relations through dialogue.

On China-South Korea relations, Wang said the development of bilateral ties now enjoys sound momentum.

The two sides, he added, need to maintain high-level contact, enhance communication and complete negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement as early as possible.

Yun, for his part, agreed that bilateral relations have developed well, and noted that the joint statement released in June has further enriched the two countries' relationship.

Seoul appreciates Beijing's contribution to promoting denuclearization and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula, he said.

He added that South Korea is willing to work with all related parties to build trust and push for the resumption of the six-party talks.

Besides China, the DPRK and South Korea, the six-party framework also groups Japan, Russia and the United States.