Resolve nuke issue 'in time'

China yesterday urged the other five countries involved in the talks to resolve the Korean nuclear issue to overcome the obstacles to honor the February 13 agreement.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on that day to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear facility.

Hopefully, Pyongyang meets the mid-April deadline to shut down the facility because that would be beneficial to all, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press briefing.

"We hope all the parties show flexibility and work hard to find a common ground and find a solution," he said.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, too, expressed confidence in Pyongyang's commitment to the February accord despite the delay in the transfer of a fund. Things are still on track and there is certainly good faith on all sides, he said.

Talking about Chinese navy chief Wu Shengli's ongoing eight-day trip to the US, Qin Gang said it would help enhance mutual trust and cooperation.

Wu has met with several high-ranking officials, including Marine General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who returned from China last month after a four-day visit.

Wu has completed the Hawaii and Washington legs of his tour, Qin said, and will now visit some US navy bases and meet with academies before flying back to Beijing on Sunday.

Wu was told during his meeting with Admiral Michael Mullen, the US chief of naval operations, that the US wants China to join global efforts to maintain international maritime security, according to reports.

China's potential participation in the global maritime partnership initiatives was referred to the "1,000-ship navy" concept aimed at building a transnational network of navies, the shipping industry and law enforcement agencies to respond to crises at sea.

Source: China Daily