China feels pleased with the outcome scored in the recent meeting between North and South Korea, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao Monday. 

"China supports the efforts made by North and South Korea to improve their relations and to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Liu acknowledged.

Chung Dong-young, unification minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), last Friday met with the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. Chung told the press after his coming back to Seoul that the DPRK is willing to return to the six-party talks in July, if the US recognizes and respects Pyongyang.

Liu said China had all along been dedicated to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, and advocated for achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free peninsula through peaceful dialogues, and will continue to make unremitted efforts in this regard.

"We sincerely hope that all parties would seize the opportune time and show flexibility for an early reopening of the six-party talks, and take constructive attitude to advance the peaceful settlement of the Korean nuclear issue," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2005)