China hopes that all parties concerned to the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will make continuous efforts to resume the talks as soon as possible, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks in reply to a journalist's question at a regular press conference.

He said several months have passed but the six-party talks have not resumed. The reason for the stalemate of the talks still lies in the mutual distrust between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he said.

"We hope related parties should show sincerity and flexibility and take into account the overall situation of peace and stability and the denuclearization object in Northeast Asia in handling related problems," said Liu.

He said China holds that the goals of denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula must be insisted on and the peaceful and dialogue solution to the issue must also be insisted on.

China has made "active" and "hard" efforts in promoting the process of the six-party talks, said Liu, adding that the crucial parties of the issue are the DPRK and the United States

"China is playing its role, but the progress of the talks does not completely depend on China's efforts. The key to resolving the issue is in the hands of the DPRK and the United States, two main parties concerned," said Liu.

He said China has noted related parties are keeping contacts in various forms and hopes such contacts will make achievements.

The six parties adopted a joint statement in September 2005 at the end of the fourth round of talks. The talks have been staled since the first phase of the fifth round of talks ended in November, 2005.

Source: Xinhua