China said Friday it appreciated the efforts of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in promoting the Korean Peninsula denuclearization and advancing the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang speaks at a daily press conference on January 11, 2019. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press conference when responding to a reporter's question on reports that ROK President Moon Jae-in said in his New Year press conference on Thursday that "China has played a positive role in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations."

Lu said that China appreciated the ROK's commitment to promoting denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, as well as pushing inter-Korean reconciliation.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula had undergone important and positive changes over the past year thanks to joint efforts from relevant parties, Lu said, adding that China hoped all relevant parties would maintain the momentum of dialogue to constantly promote the Korean Peninsula denuclearization and advance political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

"China always supports inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation and continuously improving relations; China also always encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States to meet each other half-way and resolve their own concerns through dialogue and consultation," Lu said. "China will as always play a positive role to this end."