UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday praised China's
"crucial" role in trying to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear
issue and called for all parties to redouble efforts to break the
stalemate.
"As host of the six-party talks on the nuclear issue on the
Korean Peninsula, China has played a crucial role on this pressing
issue," Annan told students at Peking University.
China's ongoing leadership would be essential to ensure that
multilateral diplomatic efforts result in a nuclear weapons-free
Korean Peninsula, he said.
"We cannot allow the current stalemate to continue. All parties
will need to redouble their efforts," Annan added.
Annan addressed about 200 students and teachers of China's
prestigious Peking University on Tuesday morning.
He spoke highly of China's role in international affairs
including HIV/AIDS prevention and poverty reduction.
He encouraged the students to join in international efforts to
protect the global environment and suggested that Chinese students
enhance exchanges with young people from Japan and South Korea.
Also on Tuesday morning, Annan toured the National Stadium
accompanied by Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
"I have no doubt that the 2008 Games will be one of the best Games and I
hope I will be here," he said.
Before arriving in China, Annan visited South Korea and Japan.
He left China on Tuesday afternoon for Vietnam, the next stop on
his Asian tour.
(Xinhua News Agency and BOCOG May 24, 2006)