China urges the early resumption of the six-party talks, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said Wednesday.

"The pressing task for now is restarting the talks as soon as possible," Cui said at a briefing on Chinese President Hu Jintao's Jan. 18 to 21 visit to the U.S.

Preserving peace and stability on the Peninsula is in the interests of all, Cui said, adding that dialogue is the only effective way to solve the problems concerning the peninsula.

Launched in 2003 but stalled since the end of 2008, the six-party talks involve China, Russia, the United States, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK). They aim to find a solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.