China plays indispensable role in solving Korean nuclear issue: Goh

Goh Kun, former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), said in Beijing Friday that China plays indispensable role in solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

At the 2005 China-ROK Economic Cooperation Forum, Goh said that the early settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, as a prerequisite for the common prosperity of the ROK, China, East Asia and the rest of the world, is one of the most important tasksfor cooperation between the ROK and China.

The ROK and China share common interests in the Northeast Asia region, Goh said, adding that a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula will be conducive to safeguarding the interests of the two countries and also beneficial to the regional peace and economic prosperity.

"In this sense, both the ROK and China have the obligation to make efforts for achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added.

The six-party talks, involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, ROK, Russia and Japan, have been regarded as the most effective, peaceful and proper way to solve the nuclear issue through dialogue. China has hosted three rounds of the six-party talks in Beijing from August 2003 to June 2004.

Goh expressed his appreciation for China's efforts in promoting the progress of the six-party talks. He said he hoped that China will contribute more to solving the nuclear issue.

The fourth round of six-party talks, originally scheduled for last September, was suspended mainly due to mistrust between the United States and the DPRK.

"We hope that the talks will be resumed soon under the joint efforts of the ROK, China and other concerned parties," Goh said.

China and the ROK will have an in-depth exchange of views on the six-party talks and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula during ROK Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan's official visit to China from June 21 to 23, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao here Tuesday.

"Both China and the ROK are participants of the six-party talks, and China values the important role the ROK has been playing for the talks as well as its efforts to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula," the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua