Chinese President supports political settlement of Korean issue

TOKYO, June 20 (KUNA) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday reaffirmed China's support for efforts to push forward the political settlement process on the Korean Peninsula issue as he met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
During his talks with Kim in Pyongyang, Xi spoke highly of the North's efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promote the denuclearization of the peninsula, according to the report.
"The situation of the Korean Peninsula concerns regional peace and stability," Xi pointed out, noting that a bright prospect of resolving the issue through dialogue has appeared over the past year, which has gained recognition and raised expectations of the international community. "The international community hopes that talks between the DPRK and the US will move forward and bear fruit," Xi added.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Stressing that the Korean Peninsula issue is highly sensitive and complex, Xi said a strategic and long-term perspective is needed to accurately guide the evolution of the situation and effectively maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.
"China is willing to provide assistance within its capacity for the DPRK to address its legitimate security and development concerns, strengthen coordination and cooperation with the DPRK as well as other relevant parties, and play a positive and constructive role in achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and long-term stability in the region," the Chinese leader said.
For his part, Kim told Xi that over the past year, North Korea has taken many active measures to avoid tensions and control the situation on the Korean Peninsula, but has not received positive responses from the party concerned, which the country does not want to see.
"The DPRK is willing to stay patient, and hopes that the relevant party will work with the DPRK to seek solutions that accomodate each other's legitimate concerns and push for results from the dialogue process," Kim was quoted as saying.
"The DPRK highly appreciates the important role played by China in solving the Korean Peninsula issue," he said, adding that his country is ready to continue to strengthen communication and coordination with China to strive for new progress in the political settlement of the issue and safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula. Xi arrived in Pyongyang earlier Thursday for a two-day state visit to North Korea. The visit, Xi's first as Chinese head of state and also the first of its kind in 14 years, came as the two neighboring countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
China is North Korea's major ally and a key provider of economic support. Kim visited China four times since last year, with the latest in January ahead of his second summit with US President Donald Trump late February, which collapsed without an agreement due to the wide gap between Washington's demand for concrete denuclearization steps and Pyongyang's demand for sanctions relief. (end) mk.rk