China said?on Thursday that pressure and sanctions are unhelpful to resolving the issue triggered by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's rocket launch and realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press conference that the UN Security Council's reaction over the DPRK's rocket launch should be conducive to maintaining unity among its member countries, safeguarding the process of the six-party talks and peace and stability in northeast Asia.

"The Security Council should take the overall situation into consideration," Jiang added.

Jiang said China had conducted bilateral and multilateral communication and coordination with member and non-member countries of the Security Council after the DPRK's launching activity on April 5, stressing that China's posture is serious and its role constructive.

"We hope that relevant parties could keep calm and show restraint, act prudently and properly handle the issue with diplomatic means so as to safeguard the region's peace and stability and advance the process of realizing a nuclear-free Peninsula," Jiang said.

"The six-party talks, which started six years ago, have scored positive progress in some aspects," said Jiang, noting that facts had proved the six-party talks an important platform for consultation and dialogue in deepening understanding and mutual trust, realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and building a harmonious northeast Asian.

"China's starting point is to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula, which favors China as well as the international community's interests. Imposing pressure or sanctions will not help toward making a nuclear-free on the Peninsula," Jiang stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2009)