China urges resumption of six-party negotiations
By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-17 05:36
China yesterday appealed for renewed discussions over Pyongyang's nuclear
programme, following the unanimous adoption of a UN resolution on its
neighbour's missile tests.
"We hope that all parties concerned take this as a turning point and make
joint efforts to create conditions to resume the Six-Party Talks as soon as
possible," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
This is the common aspiration of the international community and the "correct
direction" we should strive for, she said, adding that China opposes any move to
aggravate tensions.
China joined other Security Council members on Saturday in approving the
resolution, which demands that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
suspend its ballistic missile programme and bans all UN members from trading
with the DPRK in missiles or missile-related technology.
But Beijing persuaded the council to drop a tougher Japanese and US-backed
resolution, and tried last week to defuse the confrontation by sending diplomats
to Pyongyang.
After days of wrangling over the wording of the resolution, the council
members finally reached an agreement to remove any reference to Chapter 7 of the
UN Charter, which authorizes sanctions or even military action.
The resolution also strongly urges the DPRK to return immediately to the
Six-Party Talks, which have been stalled since November because of Pyongyang's
protest against Washington's crackdown on its alleged money-laundering and other
illicit financial activities.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya stressed that China has adopted a
responsible attitude and is firmly opposed to forcing through a vote on a draft
resolution that is not conducive to unity and will further complicate and
aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The DPRK's UN Ambassador Pak Gil-yon told the council
that his country "totally rejects" the resolution. "It is clear to everyone that
there is no need for the DPRK to unilaterally put on hold the missile launches
under such a situation," Pak said following the vote.
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