Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue during their telephone conversation Monday afternoon, according to sources with the Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov was quoted as saying that Russia showed great concern over the latest development of issue and held the issue should be resolved within the framework of the six-party talks.

Russia was willing to keep in touch and coordinate with China in this regard, he said.

Li told Lavrov that China firmly stood for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular and the maintenance of peace and stability on the Peninsula.

China was ready to make joint efforts with all relevant parties including Russia to push forward the process of the six-party talks, Li was quoted as saying.

The six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula issue involves the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, China, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan.

Three rounds of six-party talks were held in Beijing since August 2003 and served as a channel for the parties concerned to seek solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue and talks.

The DPRK announced Thursday to suspend participation in the six-party talks for an unlimited period of time.

Source: Xinhua