China on Tuesday reiterated the importance and urgency of resuming the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, urging the parties to support China's proposal for emergency consultations among chief negotiators.

"The development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula has proven the importance and urgency of resuming the six-party talks," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu at a regular press briefing.

Last month, China proposed emergency consultations among six parties' chief negotiators in December as tensions rose on the Korean Peninsula.

Jiang called on related parties to understand and support China's proposal to hold emergency consultations on the Korean Peninsula situation.

"Once parties involved start talks, there is always a way to settle the issue," she said.

Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) exchanged artillery fire on Nov. 23.

Amid the international community's repeated calls for restraint and calm on the peninsula, the United States held large-scale naval drills with the ROK and Japan separately in waters near the peninsula.

In a telephone conversation with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for a calm and rational response from all sides to prevent the deterioration of the fragile security situation on the Korean Peninsula.

"Dialogue is the sole correct channel for resolving the nuclear and other relevant issues on the Korean Peninsula, and realizing peace and stability," Jiang said.

The six-party talks involve China, Russia, the United States, Japan, the ROK and the DPRK.