Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue on Friday answered
reporters' questions concerning the Beijing visit of US Under
Secretary of State John Bolton and Assistant Secretary James Kelly.
When asked to describe the visit, Zhang said that on Oct. 18,
Bolton, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and
International Security Affairs, and Kelly, Assistant Secretary for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, visited China.
Zhang said during the visit, the two parties exchanged views on
Sino-US relations and significant international and regional issues
of common concern. She said the consultations were "constructive
and beneficial".
"We believe it helps improve mutual understanding, strengthen
cooperation and conforms to both sides' interests for China and the
US to maintain close contact on significant issues," Zhang
said.
When asked if Bolton was visiting to discuss the issue of nuclear
weapon development by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), she confirmed it.
She said it was China's consistent stance to support the
non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula to safeguard its peace
and stability.
"We hold that the nuclear issue in the DPRK should be solved
through peaceful means, through dialogues and consultations," she
added.
(Xinhua News
Agency October 18, 2002)