Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions from the press during a news conference on the sidelines of the two sessions on Tuesday. (Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn)
Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said China is "open to any initiatives" when noting proposals about three-party, four-party or even five-party contacts on resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. [Special Coverage]
The Six-Party talks on the issue - involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan - were launched in 2003 but stalled in 2008.
"The parties have also suggested some ideas, including flexible contacts in the three-party, four-party or even a five-party format.
"We are open to any or all the initiatives which could help bring the nuclear issue on the peninsula back to the negotiating table," Wang said at a Tuesday press conference during the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing.
To eventually resolve the issues on the peninsula, Wang said all the parties are hoped to adopt a "multipronged approach and apply the right medicine".
He referred to China's proposals to pursue parallel tracks - the denuclearization of the peninsula and the replacement of the armistice agreement with a peace treaty.
Wang noted that while denuclearization is a firm goal of the international community, "replacing the armistice is a reasonable concern of the DPRK".
"The two can be negotiated in parallel, implemented in steps and resolved with reference to each other. This will be the equitable, reasonable and workable solution," Wang said.
He said to "have a blind faith on sanctions and pressure, in fact, is being irresponsible to the future of the peninsula".
On the current situation on the peninsula, the minister said "the situation is a bit explosive", and "if the tension worsens or even gets out of control, it will be a disaster for all parties".
"As the largest neighbor of the peninsula, China will not sit by to see a fundamental disruption of the stability on the peninsula, and we will not sit by and see unwarranted damage to China's security interests," Wang added.
Wang said, in China's view, the UN Security Resolution 2270 must be implemented in its entirety, sanctions are just a necessary means, maintaining stability is the pressing priority, and only negotiation could provide a fundamental solution.
