CHINESE, RUSSIAN FMS DISCUSS SYRIA, KOREAN
China has warned that “conflict could break out at any moment” as tension over North Korea increases.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said if war occurred there could be no winner.
Mr Wang’s comments come as the US voices increasing concern at North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and deploys a Navy carrier group off the Korean peninsula.
China, North Korea’s only backer, fears conflict could cause the regime to collapse and problems on its border.
Mr Wang said: “One has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment.
“I think that all relevant parties should be highly vigilant with regards to this situation.”
“We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage.”
North Korea has warned the US not to take provocative action in the region, saying it is “ready to hit back with nuclear attacks”.
The comments came as North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung.
A huge parade in Pyongyang was held amid speculation current leader Kim Jong-un could order a new nuclear test.
Among the hardware on display appeared to be new intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
The show of strength comes amid mounting tension, with a US aircraft carrier group steaming towards the region. Reports BBC
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, held a strategic communication via phone Friday on bilateral ties, the situation in Syria and the Korean Peninsula.
The two foreign ministers pledged to actively implement the consensus reached by the two countries’ heads of state on the development of China-Russia relations and to prepare for a series of high-level exchanges in the near future.
The two ministers stressed that China and Russia enjoy solid mutual trust and are ready to strengthen strategic coordination in regional and international affairs.
On the situation in Syria, Wang said the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria should be respected, adding that a top priority of the moment is to conduct an independent, just and professional investigation into the use of chemical weapons in the country. He said he believed that the fact will come to light.
On the Korean Peninsula, Wang said, preventing war and chaos on the peninsula meets the common interests of China and Russia, and pulling all the parties back to the negotiating table is the common goal of the two countries.
China is willing to coordinate closely with Russia to cool down the situation on the peninsula and push the related parties to resume dialogue, he said.
Lavrov said that Russia and China enjoy frequent high-level exchanges, ever deepening mutual trust and fruitful results from bilateral cooperation in various fields.
He said Russia is in favor of a fair investigation into Syria’s chemical weapon issue as soon as possible and a resumption of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula issue.
Lavrov said that Russia is willing to continue to keep close strategic coordination and communication with China. Xenhua
QUAKE OF M6.2 – HIT ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
| Magnitude | 6.2 |
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| Location | 23.236S 67.653W |
| Depth | 135 km |
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