Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Friday said "there is no other
choice but diplomacy" when addressing the Korean peninsular nuclear
issue.
"The Korean peninsular nuclear issue now stands at the crossroad
and what course to follow is directly related to the peace and
stability in east Asia and the world at large," Wen told visiting
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"There is no other choice but diplomacy and dialogue," Wen
said.
Prior to the meeting, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with Rice.
"Fortunately, my visit North Korea this time has not been in
vain," Tang told Rice at the start of their meeting.
Tang, who visited Pyongyang as special envoy of President Hu Jintao on Wednesday and Thursday, conveyed
Hu's message to North Korea leader Kim Jong Il during the
visit.
In talks with her Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing, Rice said they talked about "the
importance of leaving open a path of negotiations of the six-party talks."
The six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue remained stalled
since the last round of meeting was held in Beijing last
November.
The last round of talks, involving China, North Korea, the
United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, ended up with a
Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to
resume the talks as soon as possible.
Rice came to the Chinese capital amid international efforts to
ease the tension arising from the North Korea nuclear test on
October 9.
China is the third leg of Rice's four-nation tour, which has
taken her to Japan and South Korea. She is also scheduled to visit
Russia following her China trip.
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2006)
