Leaders from China and the ASEAN countries called for an early
resumption of the six-party talks to resolve the nuclear issue on
the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on
Monday.
Wen said at a press conference after a China-ASEAN summit
marking the 15th Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations between
China and the ASEAN that China and the ASEAN urged all parties
involved in the six-party talks to abide by a landmark joint
statement issued on September 19, 2005, which was adopted by the
six parties -- China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and
Japan -- for the cause of peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula and in Northeast Asia at large.
In that joint statement, the DPRK promised to abandon all
nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs while the United
States affirmed that it had no intention of attacking or invading
the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons.
"We all call for an early resumption of the six-party talks,"
Wen said.
Echoing Wen's remarks, Arroyo, president of the Philippines that
holds the rotating presidency of the ASEAN, emphasized the
importance of regional peace and stability in Asia.
The Chinese and ASEAN leaders agreed that the nuclear standoff
on the Korean Peninsula should be resolved in a peaceful way,
Arroyo said at the press conference.
Arroyo also called for an early resumption of the six-party
talks concerning the nuclear program of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea.
Arroyo expressed appreciation for the role that China has played
in solving the issue, adding that the summit has provided a
"significant" platform for discussing economic and security
issues.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)