Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Monday that a report published by the US-based New York Times on the Korean nuclear issue "doesn't tally with the fact."  

"We don't know why the reporter held such irresponsible attitude towards the clear-cut facts," Liu said.

After reiterating that China's stance on the Korean nuclear issue was "consistent and firm," he elaborated that China stands for a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

The nuclear issue must be peacefully resolved through dialogue, he said, noting that "all issues related with the nuclear problem should and can be tackled through talks."

China has maintained contacts, coordination and cooperation with all sides concerned, including the United States, on the Korean nuclear issue, he said.

China's efforts to push forward the trilateral talks and the later six-party talks were "obvious to all," Liu said, adding that China will continue to maintain and enhance coordination and cooperation with all sides on the issue.

The trilateral talks involves China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States, and the ensuing six-party talks added the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan. All the talks were held in Beijing during the last two years.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2005)