Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State-designee says at her confirmation hearing that China has played an important role in the six-party talks aimed at solving the nuclear issue of North Korea.

Rice said the six-party talks is something that the United States is much better off doing with South Korea, Japan, Russia and "most especially with China, which is playing an important role in the six-party talks and needs to continue to play an active role"

In her earlier testimony on Tuesday, Rice said that the United States is building "candid, cooperative and constructive" ties with China.

On Iran's nuclear issue, Rice says Iran has to be held accountable for not living up to its international obligations.

Rice insisted that the United States is preparing to refer Iran's nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council.

(CRI.com January 19, 2005)