Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan urged the United States to take a more flexible attitude to the Korean nuclear issue Friday in Beijing.

Meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Tang said all parties should display political wisdom, pave the way for a return to dialogue and negotiation, and re-open the six-party talks.

"This is in the interests of all sides and I hope the United States will take a more active and flexible attitude," he said.

The six-party talks, involving China, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, have stalled since the fifth round of meeting was held in Beijing last November. At that meeting, the parties agreed to resume talks as soon as possible.

He said China is in favor of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and believes that the issue should be solved by peaceful dialogue so as to maintain peace and stability in northeast Asia.

"The issue has reached a critical point and all parties should keep cool-headed and make endeavors not to worsen the situation," Tang said.

China is willing to work with the US side and the other parties to solve the issue through negotiations, he said.

Rice expressed her appreciation of China's diplomatic efforts, and said the United States is willing to enhance communication with China and seek an effective way to solve the issue.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test on Oct. 9.

The United Nations Security Council on Oct. 14 unanimously adopted a resolution imposing sanctions against North Korea because of its nuclear test.

Following the North Korea's nuclear test, China has engaged in intense diplomatic activity.
 
Tang, as Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy, has visited the United States and Russia, meeting with US President George W. Bush, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Tang also visited North Korea Wednesday and Thursday, and returned to Beijing Thursday night.

Tang conveyed a message from Chinese President Hu Jintao to North Korea leader Kim Jong Il during the visit.

"Fortunately, my visit to the North Korea was not in vain," Tang told Rice at the start of their meeting.

Amid international efforts to ease the tension arising from the North Korea nuclear test, Rice has already visited Japan and the Republic of Korea. After China, she will travel to Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2006)