China calls US-North Korea summit an 'important step'

The US-North Korea summit in Vietnam last week was an "important step" toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, China's foreign minister said Friday, despite criticism that the meeting ended early without leading to an agreement.

The Hanoi talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were "worthy of full recognition," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature.

"We feel like this meeting was an important step in finding a political resolution to the (Korean) Peninsula issue," Wang said.

That the two "leaders overcame obstacles to meet again in a candid face-to-face discussion itself represents a positive development that must be applauded."
He encouraged the two countries to "remain patient," and noted that many issues concerning the peninsula "cannot be solved overnight."