Sports helped pave the way for Sino-ROK ties

A top envoy from the Republic of Korea (ROK) urged the resumption of the six-party talks as soon as possible on Thursday, and praised China's constructive role on the issue.

"We think the six party process is very much useful. We should revive the six party process as soon as possible," Shin Jung-seung, the ROK's Ambassador to China, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily website.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo visited Pyongyang last week and delivered a letter to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong-il, which reiterated China's stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and emphasized the importance of peace and stability in northeast Asia.

"The (Republic of) Korea very much values the constructive role of Chinese government in this nuclear issue, as shown by the recent visit by State Councilor Dai Bingguo to Pyongyang, " Mr. Shin said.

Kim, responding to Hu's letter, said DPRK is willing to solve problems through bilateral or multilateral talks.

Pyongyang walked away from the six-party talks in April to protest criticism of its rocket launches and missile tests, and subsequent UN sanctions. The last six-party talks took place in Beijing in December 2008.

Video: Lou Yi

Story: Patrick Zuo