WASHINGTON — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on May 23 that China firmly supports the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and the top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un.

Direct contact and dialogue between top leaders of the two nations are key to solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Wang said at a news conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after their meeting.

He made a stopover in Washington DC on his way back from Argentina on May 23.

China expects the meeting to be held as scheduled and achieve success, he said.

China believes that President Trump and Chairman Kim are capable and have the wisdom to make the right decision to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and bring good news to the world, Wang said.

China is firmly committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and this stance will not change, Wang said.

Meanwhile, it is also necessary, while promoting denuclearization, to address the DPRK’s reasonable security concerns at an appropriate time, he noted.

He also urged to establish a long-term and effective peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula along with the realization of denuclearization.

China remains steadfast in fulfilling its due international obligations and will continue to fully and strictly implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions on the DPRK, and will continue to work to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said.

If the United States wants to solve the problem, now is the time, he said, adding that if America wants peace and wants to make history, now is the time.