Nov. 19 - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday called for the settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation.

 

"We should stick to the direction of solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue," Hu said when meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the two-day14th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which began on Saturday.

 

The parties concerned should seek solution to the issue with wisdom and patience so as to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible, he said.

 

China is willing to work with all parties concerned, including the United States, to promote resumption of the six-party talks, reaffirm their commitments in a joint statement adopted in September, 2005, and prompt the talks to make tangible progress, he said.

 

The six-party talks, which involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea, had been stalled since November last year.

 

The international community should send a common signal, urging the DPRK to take right actions and move in the right direction, Bush said, adding that Washington hoped to seek a peaceful solution to the issue.

 

On Iran's nuclear issue, President Hu urged calmness and patience from parties concerned to maintain engagement and dialogue with Iran, seek an effective solution to the issue, and create conditions for the resumption of relevant talks.

 

Bush said the United Nations Security Council should take a firm and reasonable position on the issue.

 

The Chinese president also briefed his U.S. counterpart on China's building of a harmonious society.