 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Seoul (AFP) May 2, 2018
Beijing hopes that talks between the United States and North Korea will be "smooth and achieve substantial progress", China's foreign minister said Wednesday during a rare visit to Pyongyang as the Asian superpower tries to mend ties with its nuclear-armed neighbour. The two-day visit by Wang Yi -- the highest-ranking Chinese official to travel to North Korea in years -- follows a landmark inter-Korean summit and precedes a meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in coming weeks. Beijing "fully backs... (North Korea's) efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Wang said during talks with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. He also said that China was "willing to strengthen communication... (with North Korea) and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue", Xinhua reported. The two top diplomats met in Beijing last month, days after Kim travelled to China for talks with President Xi Jinping. It was Kim's first overseas trip since he took power in 2011 and came amid signs of a diplomatic thaw. Ri said the talks between Xi and Kim had paved the way for the two countries to develop "friendly relations from a new starting point", Xinhua reported. He said the regime would "maintain close communications with China on how to realise denuclearisation and establish peace mechanisms on the Korean peninsula, while enhancing dialogue with all parties concerned", according to Xinhua. Pyongyang hosted a reception to welcome Wang on Wednesday evening, with Ri in attendance, the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported. Wang, who arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday, is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit the North since 2007, a lapse that highlights the rough patch in relations between the allies in recent years. China -- North Korea's sole diplomatic ally and economic benefactor -- has supported a series of United Nations sanctions against the North over its nuclear and missile programmes. Last year the North staged its most powerful nuclear test to date and launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland as Kim and Trump traded threats of war and personal insults, sparking global security fears. Experts say China is now likely eager to avoid being marginalised in the wave of diplomacy that led to last Friday's historic summit between Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in. Kim is expected to meet Trump in the coming weeks at a time and place yet to be announced. The North Korean leader has also invited Xi to visit Pyongyang but no date has been set.
China's foreign minister to visit N. Korea this week Beijing (AFP) April 30, 2018 China's foreign minister will visit North Korea this week, his office said Monday, becoming the highest-ranking Chinese official to travel there in years as Beijing moves to further improve ties with Pyongyang days after a landmark inter-Korean summit. The Chinese foreign ministry said in a brief statement that Wang Yi will visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday at the invitation of his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho. The two met in Beijing in early April, days after talks between Pre ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
