Korean Peninsula Talks: China calls for joint efforts and dialogue for peninsula peace

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03:22

China has played a key role in pursuing peace on the Korean Peninsula. To keep the momentum going, it's urged the parties to appreciate what's been accomplished so far. Zheng Yibing has more.

Twice over the course of several weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Kim Jong Un - leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

They discussed working toward a political resolution to the peninsula nuclear issue, showing that China's is playing an important role in the situation.

PROFESSOR GAO HONG CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES "Back to the time of the six-party talks, China played an active part. Its basic standpoint was promoting dialogue, instead of confrontation. This has never changed although the six-party mechanism was hampered in recent years."

Starting in 2003, the six-party talks were suspended in 2008, and then the DPRK backing out of talks in 2009 in protest of UN sanctions.

After many ups and downs in the years that followed, the expectations are high for the meeting between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore.

PROFESSOR ZHA DAOJIONG SCHOOL OF INT'L STUDIES, PEKING UNIVERSITY "I would say at this point of time, it's more useful to think about how we can move forward, rather than dwelling on the dramatic changes."

To achieve peace on the peninsula, China now has made two proposals. One is called "suspension-for-suspension". This involves the suspension of the DPRK's nuclear and missile activities, and the suspension of joint military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea. Another proposal is "dual-track" - a call for denuclearization while establishing protocols to achieve peace and preserve it.

RONG YING VICE PRESIDENT, CHINA INSTITUTE OF INT'L STUDIES "The proposals play important roles to achieve peace through dialogues. And they have been recognized by the parties involved, including DPRK, ROK, Japan and the US."

The U.S. took credit for the DPRK's recent offer to denuclearize—announced in the Panmunjom at the end of April. But, Washington also vowed to maintain pressure on the DPRK, until complete denuclearization is achieved. China said this hard-won situation needs a different approach and encourages the DPRK and the US to show further sincerity.

HUA CHUNYING SPOKESPERSON, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "We hope the two sides will continue to strengthen dialogue, improve relations, and play a positive role in promoting the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

From the six-party talks until now, China has never wavered in its efforts to achieve peace.

This was also seen during the trilateral leaders' meeting in May, as Chinese premier Li Keqiang worked alongside Japanese and South Korean leaders to keep momentum going in a positive direction.

ZHENG YIBING BEIJING "As Beijing said, all parties involved should take the opportunity to achieve long-term peace on the Peninsula. And China vows to continue playing a constructive role in the region. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Beijing."