China appeals to U.S., North Korea for "constructive steps" to restart nuclear talks

China appealed to the United States and North Korea on Thursday to take steps to build trust in each other, saying lack of confidence was blocking the resumption of talks on the North's nuclear ambitions.

The two governments "should demonstrate their sincerity and take some concrete actions to enhance confidence in each other," said Liu Jianchao, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "We hope the two sides can have patience and exercise restraint and do something more constructive to reopening the process."

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday told North Korea's visiting premier that dialogue was the "only correct choice" for settling the dispute over Washington's demand that the North give up its nuclear ambitions.

The United States has been lobbying China to use its leverage as the North's main ally to prod Pyongyang back to talks. Beijing has appealed to both sides to show more flexibility.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman blamed a lack of trust between Washington and Pyongyang for disputes that he said have blocked the resumption of the talks.

"These kinds of disputes create some obstacles to the reopening of the six-party talks, because the two sides do not have trust in each other," Liu said at a regular news briefing.

Associated Press