The foreign ministers of China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Wednesday that both nations hoped that all parties involved in the six-party talks could step up their diplomatic efforts, avoid complicating the situation on the Korean Peninsula and push for the earliest resumption of the talks.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his ROK counterpart Ban Ki-moon made the remark during a telephone conversation while they exchanged views on the peninsula's nuclear issue. Both stood for a peaceful solution through dialogue and a nuclear-weapon freepeninsula.

The two also said they were pleased at the progress of bilateral relationships in the past year.

They said both foreign ministries would cooperate more closely to implement the consensus of Chinese President Hu Jintao and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun on developing ties, going on advancing for progress of the all-round cooperation partnership of the two nations.

Source: Xinhua