Premier Li meets the press: Full transcript of questions and answers
The Dong-A Ilbo: The Hanoi summit between the DPRK and the United States broke down and after that there are analyses arguing that there is a possibility for the DPRK preparing for resuming rocket launch. And there are still uncertainties on the Korean Peninsula situation. How does the Chinese side see the kind of situation on the Peninsula? Another question is, China has stayed in strategic communication and exchanged high-level visits with the DPRK and has been promoting dialogue between the DPRK and the United States and working to ease differences between the two parties. What constructive role is China playing in this respect?
Premier Li: The Korean Peninsula issue is a long-standing and complicated one. It cannot be resolved overnight. Much attention has been paid to the Hanoi summit between the DPRK and the United States. Following the summit, both sides expressed readiness to stay engaged with each other, and having such kind of engagement is better than no contact at all. I believe it is important for all parties concerned to stay patient, seize opportunities and the positive factors that have emerged, and promote dialogue, especially dialogue between the DPRK and the United States, to move toward outcomes that we all would like to see. China is committed to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope there will be peace and stability there. And this has been our consistent position. A proper settlement of the Peninsula issue is in the interest of both the North and the South. It is also in the regional and global interest.
