China, ROK hold high-level strategic dialogue

BEIJING - China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held the sixth high-level strategic dialogue between their foreign ministries in Beijing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and ROK's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun attended the talks, Hong said at a press briefing.

Hong quoted Zhang as saying that China attaches great importance to ROK President Park Geun-hye's upcoming state visit to China.

China is ready to work with the ROK to ensure the success of the visit and push for development of bilateral relations, Zhang said during the talks.

China takes a firm stand on denuclearization as well as peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Zhang said, reiterating that China persists in seeking a solution through dialogue and consultation.

He said China takes a positive attitude towards President Park Geun-hye's proposal of pushing forward a process of trust-building on the Korean Peninsula.

He said that China supports the improvement of relations between the ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Zhang said parties concerned should create conditions for early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

He urged all parties to jointly safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and push for early turnaround of the situation, according to Hong.

The high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and ROK started in 2008 in Beijing in accordance with agreement among leaders of the two countries. Since then, Beijing and Seoul have taken turns in hosting the annual dialogue.