China welcomes exchanges between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and hopes the upcoming Putin-Kim summit will contribute to Russia-DPRK relations as well as the stability of the Korean Peninsula, said Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during a regular press conference on Wednesday.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold their first-ever meeting in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on Thursday, Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday.

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Geng pointed out that both China and Russia can contribute greatly to maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula by drafting specific solutions to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

He also reiterated that China is willing to take phased steps with Russia and all other concerned parties to push forward a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue with a package plan.

Geng wished the meeting between Putin and Kim a great success, adding that China hopes the meeting will advance denuclearization and political settlement on the Peninsula.

(Cover: National flags of the DPRK and Russia fly at a railway station near the border between the countries during preparations for the visit of Kim Jong Un in the far eastern settlement of Khasan, Russia, April 23, 2019. /Reuters Photo)