国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese, Russian diplomats hold talks on situation of Korean Peninsula

MOSCOW, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin here on Tuesday, exchanging views with the Russian side on the current situation of the Korean Peninsula.

The two sides reached consensus on the issue, saying both China and Russia urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to jointly mitigate tensions on the peninsula and to resume direct dialogue at an early date.

Escalating tensions on the peninsula may even trigger a war, which is absolute not in line with the interests of the relevant sides including Russia, the United States and Japan, the two diplomats said in a joint statement.

The ROK and the DPRK are the most susceptible if the war broke out, the statement added.

China and Russia will never allow any war on the peninsula, or the lingering tensions between the two countries. Thus, China and Russia will continue to further cooperation and coordination on the issue and to push forward the direct dialogue between the ROK and the DPRK, the diplomats said.

They said China and Russia are calling for joint efforts from relevant sides to stabilize the situation on the peninsula and not to impair peace, safety or stability.

The two sides also reiterated that the six-party talks were proved to be the most realistic and most effective solution to solving the problem.

Currently, emergency consultations among the heads of delegations to the six-party talks are in urgent need, they added.

Launched in 2003 and stalled since the end of 2008, the six- party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue involve China, the United States, the DPRK, the ROK, Russia and Japan.

The two sides also exchanged views on bilateral ties, including high-level exchanges, the overall promotion of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, and several other issues.