All the parties concerned should work together to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said Wednesday.
In an interview with Christiane Amanpour, anchor and chief international correspondent of the U.S. cable news network CNN, Cui said that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula "is a challenge to all of us, China, the United States, Russia and others."
"And we should work together to seek a diplomatic solution to this issue," he said.
The veteran Chinese diplomat was referring to the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of recent DPRK's test firing of missiles and the U.S. threat to launch pre-emptive strike to eliminate the threat by the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs.
The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has warned that the U.S. policy of strategic patience is over and all options, including the military one, are on the table to deal with the DPRK threat.
Washington fears that the DPRK could soon acquire a ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear warhead to its mainland.
Cui said China has been making a lot of efforts to seek a peaceful solution to the DPRK nuclear issue, mainly on two fronts.
On one hand, China has been implementing "very effectively and strictly" all the UN Security Council resolutions on the issue and sanctions; On the other hand, China has been pursuing diplomatic efforts "in the hope that everybody else will join us in a serious search for a real, effective and peaceful solution to this issue," Cui explained.
Cui emphasized that China's goal is clear, that is, denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula while maintaining peace and stability there.
"I think this is the shared goal of the parties concerned and this will certainly serve the interests of both China and the United States. And we have to be persistent on that," Cui said.
He said China strongly advocates that all the parties concerned refrain from doing things that will escalate the situation even further.
On the meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, held early this month at the Mar-A-Largo estate in Florida, Cui said the two leaders got along very well with each other, which is "a very reassuring development" to the bilateral ties.
The meeting gave "a clear guidance and a clear sense of direction" on where the relations should be going, he noted.
Xi explained to Trump China's position and considerations on the DPRK nuclear issue and Trump listened carefully, Cui said.
On the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system on South Korea despite China's strong protests, Cui said China is gravely concerned about the U.S. move.
It will not help reduce the tensions on the Peninsula, but rather will undermine mutual trust and confidence between China and the United States, because it poses "a serious threat" to China's security, he said.
"We will not change our position," Cui added.
