China urges N. Korea to ease tensions on Korean Peninsula

China has urged North Korea to promote the easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday, days after US Secretary of State John Kerry paid a visit to Beijing, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. At a diplomatic consultation held in Pyongyang, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said China hopes all parties concerned to work together to promote the easing of tensions on the Peninsula, to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to create conditions for an early resumption of the six-party talks, according to the report. The North Korean side said that Pyongyang is willing to work with Beijing to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields. "Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the consistent stand of North Korea and Pyongyang is willing to do its best to promote resumption of the six-party talks, by strengthening coordination with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and the region," it said. The six-party talks aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which involve the two Koreas, China, the US, Japan and Russia, have been suspended since late 2008. China is traditionally North Korea's closest ally and a major economic benefactor. Liu arrived in the North Korean capital on Monday a four-day visit for a diplomatic consultation with officials from the North Korean Foreign Ministry. Liu is the most senior Chinese official to visit North Korea since the execution of leader Kim Jong-un's uncle in mid-December. His visit came after Kerry made a two-day visit last week to Beijing, when he urged China to "use every tool" to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.