At the invitation of Li, Ban will stay in Beijing for a two-day working visit. Upon his arrival late Monday, Ban was reported to have said he planed to discuss matters including the early resumption of six-party talks and a plan of North Korea to test-fire a missile.

During the meeting with Ban on Tuesday afternoon, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said all the relevant parties should keep to peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issues through dialogues under such circumstances, and prevent from deteriorating the tense situation.

Tang urged all parties concerned to promote an early resumption of the six-party talks halted since November of last year, and help maintain through common efforts the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

Ban said the South Korean side is highly concerned of the present situation, and is willing to work with the Chinese side to push forward the six-party talks, and to maintain the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2006)