In the morning of January 9, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan answered the phone and had a conversation with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. The two sides exchanged views mainly on the nuclear question of the DPRK and Sino-US bilateral relations.

Powell said that US harbors no hostility towards the DPRK and hopes to seek solution to the nuclear question of the DPRK through constructive dialogue so as to realize the denuclearization of the Korea Peninsular.

Tang Jiaxuan said that China appreciates US’s position of being willing to solve the nuclear question of the DPRK through dialogue and hopes that the US side conducts dialogue with the DPRK in a flexible manner. Tang stressed that only dialogue can relax the tension triggered by the nuclear question of the DPRK, maintain peace and stability and the denuclearization of the Korea Peninsular. It is conducive to peace, stability and development of North East Asia and conforms to interests of the various parties, US included.

Both sides agreed that good momentum has been maintained in developing bilateral relations and hoped to see new improvement and development in the bilateral relations in the new year.