Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush discussed by phone the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula Thursday evening.

Hu told Bush that China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and opposed to any actions that might intensify the situation, according to a statement from the China's Foreign Ministry.

Bush said the United States was concerned about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

"The United States still adheres to the commitment of resolving the Korean Peninsula issue by diplomatic means", Bush was quoted as saying.

Hu said China is "deeply concerned" over the current situation. "Under such a complicated situation, it is highly necessary for all the related parties to keep calm and show restraint."

China is willing to keep negotiations with related parties on this issue, he said.

It is of vital importance for the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula and the maintenance of peace and stability on the peninsula to fully implement the Joint Statement, adopted at the end of the fourth round of six-party talks in September last year, Hu said.

He called on all parties concerned to create conditions for the resumption of the six-party talks at an early date.

Bush said the United States appreciated efforts China has made to keep the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The United States would like to keep communications with China, Bush said.

Christopher Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State, will visit China on Friday to talk with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on how to promote the six-party talks under the current situation.

"China is willing to negotiate with the United States on maintaining peace and stability in northeast Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.

She reiterated China's deep concern over the tension caused by the missile tests, hoping the parties concerned to keep calm and exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further intensify and complicate the situation.

The UN Security Council met Wednesday for an emergency meeting to discuss the missile tests by the DPRK, which reportedly launched seven missiles on Wednesday morning.

Jiang said China hopes that the UN response to the missile tests should be helpful to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on July 5 discussed the situation of the Korean Peninsula with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a phone conversation.

"The two sides have exchanged views on the missile test-firing by the DPRK," Jiang said, adding they agreed to keep in contact with each other on this issue.

Li also talked over phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Aso Taro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Ban Ki-Moon and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Wednesday respectively.

They exchanged views on the latest development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Jiang said.