China and the United States on Wednesday agreed to make further efforts to promote the six-party talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula during their talks at the State Department.

Minister Yang, who is in Washington on a five-day working visit as guest of Secretary Clinton, hoped that all parties concerned maintain calm and restraint, making joint efforts to promote the process of six-party talks and safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula.

Secretary Clinton said that the goal of a nuclear-free peninsula is indispensable, adding that the U.S. side hopes that the six-party talks could continue to proceed forward.

The minister and the secretary also exchanged views on Afghanistan, stability in South Asia, the nuclear issue of Iran, the Middle East peace process and the Darfur issue in Sudan.

They agreed that both sides maintain close communications and coordination diplomatically on international and regional issues and work together to pursue proper solutions to hotspot issues concerned.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)