China stresses support for North Korea after special envoys’ phone conversation
- Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing will continue to work with its communist neighbour to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully
- Comments follow first discussion between China’s special representative Liu Xiaoming and his US counterpart Sung Kim
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that China would push for closer cooperation with North Korea.
Zhao also cited a telephone conversation between Liu Xiaoming, China’s special representative on the Korean peninsula, and his US counterpart Sung Kim, adding that Beijing would continue to play its part in securing a peaceful settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue.
According to observers, Beijing sees the issue as an important source of leverage in dealing with the Biden administration and hopes that if it helps to break the deadlock it may help ease its spiraling tensions with the US.
Liu largely echoed comments by Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week in which he called for the resumption of dialogue and consultation and “phased and synchronised” actions by both the US and North Korea.
He also urged Washington to address Pyongyang’s “legitimate and reasonable concerns”, in another indication of Beijing’s continued support for the North.