China has pledged to try and revive talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programs. The United States and other countries involved in the six-party talks have called on China to use its influence over North Korea. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing spoke Saturday night by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and said Beijing stands firm in supporting a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, the Chinese government said Sunday. Li told Rice that "China will stay in touch with all relevant parties ... so that the six-party talks could be resumed as soon as possible," the Foreign Ministry said. The discussions also involve South Korea, Russia and Japan. South Korea's foreign minister also said he had discussed with U.S. officials "views that China should strengthen efforts to persuade the North," according to a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency. Ban Ki-moon is in Washington on a previously scheduled trip and was to meet Rice on Monday.
