China urges all to see positive side of upcoming Koreas' talks

China on Friday called on all parties to see the positive side of the upcoming high-level talks between arch-rivals, North Korea and South Korea, scheduled to be held next week.

According to Xinhua, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: "China has noticed the latest development. As a close neighbour, China welcomes and supports the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and ROK (Republic of Korea) in their positive moves to smooth relations."

China will hope that the international community will show support and work to find a way to ease tensions between the two countries, by increasing mutual trust, peace and resuming dialogues consistently on the Korean peninsula issue.

"China has played a constructive role to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue and advocates all parties return to dialogue amid this complex situation," Geng said.

"We hope all parties involved will work with China, play their due role, shoulder their responsibilities, and seize the positive signs in the Korean Peninsula situation to put the issue back on the track of peaceful settlement through dialogue," he added.

China on Wednesday welcomed the talks between North Korea and South Korea and thus, appreciated their effort to use the 2018 Winter Olympics for improving ties.

The decision on talks was taken following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's re-conciliatory New Year message in a televised address to the nation on Monday, over the latter's probable participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month.

The Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place at South Korea's Pyeongchang from February 9-25.