China suggested Thursday for the first time that the United Nations could play a role in solving the Georgia crisis, saying the world body should consider the interests of all parties.

"If the United Nations adopts any kind of action, it must be conducive to promoting a resolution through dialogue and consultations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told journalists.

"(It should) help achieve regional peace and stability and should embody the common ground of all the various parties."

Some observers have argued that China would prefer a regional forum such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to deal with the crisis, rather than the United Nations.

If the UN Security Council were to consider a resolution, China would have to make its position clear, posing a potential embarrassment given its close relationship with Russia, which invaded Georgia in August.

Beijing has consistently refused to fully endorse Russia or the Western nations that have condemned Moscow.

Hostilities erupted over Moscow-backed rebel regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Russia then recognised as independent. The West has expressed outrage at Russia's military action and its recognition of the rebel regions.

Jiang's comments came as US Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Georgia for talks with President Mikheil Saakashvili, a day after the United States announced a one-billion-dollar aid package for the ex-Soviet republic.