The financial problem has become a key one affecting the process of the six-party talks, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday.

Liu told a regular news conference that "the financial problem has exerted a negative impact on the talks".

Five rounds of talks aimed at resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula have been held by China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan.

The talks were first held in Beijing on August of 2003, and followed by several rounds in the same venue. The first phase of the fifth round of six-party talks, held from Nov. 9 to 11, was the latest session where the process has stopped up till now.

Liu said the Chinese side hopes all parties involved could take a comprehensive view, respect each other, strengthen dialogue and communication in order to seek an early resumption of the talks during which an appropriate approach may be found to deal with the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

According to Liu, a meeting "beneficial to the process of the talks" was held among China, the DPRK and the United States in Beijing on Jan. 18.

China has always been active in keeping contact with involved parties and will go on doing so in order to restart the talks as soon as possible, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua