January 6, 11

NEWS / Ban and Chinese Foreign Minister stress need for peace on Korean peninsula

6 January 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, with both men stressing the need for peace and stability in the region.

During their meeting at United Nations headquarters, the two also stressed the need for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, which involve China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States and are aimed at resolving the crisis over the DPRK nuclear issue.

The Secretary-General also expressed his strong appreciation of China’s active efforts in this regard, according to information provided by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson following the meeting.

Mr. Ban had discussed the same issue earlier this week in a telephone conversation with the President of the ROK, Lee Myung-bak, during which the Secretary-General reaffirmed his readiness to provide assistance to facilitate peace and stability in the region in close coordination with the concerned countries.

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister also discussed today the situation in Sudan and Myanmar, as well as the ongoing crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, where the outgoing president refuses to step down despite his opponent’s electoral victory in November’s run-off election.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37215&Cr=korean&Cr1=