China, U.S. seek to break deadlock on Korean Peninsula nuke issue

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill on Friday morning.

Sources said they mainly exchanged views on the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the situation on the Peninsula. By press time, the meeting was still going on.

Hill arrived here early Friday morning after Wednesday's test-firing of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Before meeting with Tang, Hill held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Hill will conclude his brief stay in Beijing on Friday afternoon and leave for Seoul, the second leg of his Asia trip, according to sources with the U.S. embassy in Beijing.

Kenichiro Sasae, Japan's chief negotiator to the six-party talks, is also in Beijing and will meet with Wu Dawei on Friday afternoon.

According to early reports, Wu, China's top negotiator to the six-party talks, will accompany Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu for a visit to the DPRK next week.

Source: Xinhua