China urges parties concerned to pave way for six-party talks

China urged all parties concerned to create conditions to revive six-party talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after the country pledged to resume them.

"Under the current circumstances, parties involved should make joint efforts and act with wisdom to bring the issue back to the track of dialogue and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing on Friday, responding to a question about DPRK's pledge.

The DPRK is ready to resume six-party talks on nuclear issues without preconditions, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday after talks with Choe Ryong Hae, visiting special envoy of the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un.

Pushing forward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining its peace and stability is in the common interest and the shared responsibility of all parties concerned, Hong said.

The six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, were initiated in Beijing in August 2003 but have stalled since December 2008.