China welcomes Monday's meeting in New York between officials of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday.

The United States was represented by Joseph DiTrani, US special envoy to the six-party talks, and Jim Foster, director of the State Department's Office of Korean Affairs. They conferred with DPRK officials on the resumption of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

It is another meeting between the two countries' officials since they held working talks in New York on May 13.

"China always welcomes and encourages the contacts between the United States and DPRK, and is making efforts to promote their meeting." Liu said at a regular news briefing, adding that the meeting was quite "helpful".

He said China will contact the relevant parties in time to know about the details of the meeting so as to continuously make constructive efforts for the early resumption of the six-party talks.

"We should not lose hope for the settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue at any time," Liu said.

The six-party talks have been stalled since last June as the DPRK accused the United States of adopting a hostile policy towards Pyongyang.

Liu said although divergence exists among the relevant parties, they held that the six-party talks should move on.

He called on all the parties to keep patient and play constructive role in promoting the early resumption of the new round of six-party talks.

Source: Xinhua