China hopes the UN Security Council will move to indicate the
firm stand of the international community and help create the
conditions necessary for a peaceful solution to the Korean nuclear
issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on
Sunday.
?
Liu was commenting on the UN Security Council resolution concerning
the nuclear test conducted by North Korea on October 9.
China hopes that while representing the firm stand of the
international community, the UN Security Council resolution should
also create favorable conditions for peacefully solving the issue
through dialogue and negotiations, Liu said.
The resolution, co-sponsored by the US and eight other nations,
condemns North Korea’s nuclear test, demands that North Korea
eliminate its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs, and imposes new
sanctions on it in relation to its nuclear, ballistic missiles and
weapons of mass destruction.
"China is resolutely opposed to the nuclear test by North Korea,
and determined to achieve a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula
peacefully through dialogue and consultation," Liu said.
Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in
the Northeast Asian region also conforms to the common interests of
the international community, Liu said.
"China participated in preparing the UN resolution with these
principles in mind," he said.
The UN resolution also welcomes and encourages further efforts
by all states concerned to intensify their diplomatic efforts,
refrain from any actions that might aggravate tension and to
facilitate the early resumption of six-party talks, which involve
China, the US, Russia, Japan, and North and South Korea.
The resolution makes it clear that the council will suspend or
lift sanctions against North Korea if it complies with terms of the
resolution, according to Wang Guangya, Chinese Permanent
Representative to the UN.
Six-party talks to resolve the Korean nuclear issue stalled
after North Korea criticized the US for imposing economic sanctions
on it after the first phase of the fifth round of talks ended last
November.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)