China calls for lifting of sanctions on North Korea

BEIJING: China pitched for the lifting of sanctions imposed on North Korea on Tuesday, soon after US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong un pledged to work towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

“The UN Security Council resolutions that have been passed say that if North Korea respects and acts in accordance with the resolutions, sanction measures can be adjusted (whether for pausing or removing them),” foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at the regular ministry briefing on Tuesday.

Although China is North Korea’s key economic benefactor, it had also imposed sanctions on the isolated country after its government tested nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

“China has consistently held that sanctions are not a goal in themselves. The security council’s actions should support and conform to the efforts of current diplomatic talks towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula, promoting a political solution,” said Geng.

The meeting between Trump and Kim was of “great significance” and had “created history”, he added.

Earlier in the day, state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi said China was hoping that North Korea and the United States manage to reach a consensus on denuclearisation.