Kong made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on an alleged incident involving exchange of fire Thursday morning in the demilitarized zone separating the DPRK and the ROK.

China hopes the two sides will make joint efforts to safeguard the stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula, Kong said.

Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo has left for the United States to discuss the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the spokesman made the announcement and said Dai will stay in the United States for about two days.

Dai is the second Chinese senior official, following Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to visit the United States in 20 days to discuss the standoff.

After his Russian visit earlier this month, Dai ended a four-day visit to Pyongyang this week during which he met the DPRK leader, Kim Jong-il, and presented a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"What China is doing is lowering the temperature, promoting talks and encouraging the two sides to make peace,'' Kong said.

On the nuclear issue, China will continue to "make unwavering, active, responsible and constructive efforts,'' Kong said, noting the latest US trip was agreed upon during a telephone discussion between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Powell on Wednesday.

China stands for dialogue to solve the nuclear issue and maintains that "Beijing talks'' should be continued, Kong said.

The United States and the DPRK held talks in April in Beijing, which was an effort to move forward after the nuclear standoff erupted in October.

For the United States and the DPRK, the key obstacle has been disagreement over the format for new talks. Pyongyang wants direct talks with Washington, while the United States is after multilateral talks.

Kong stressed yesterday that it is more important to resume dialogue rather than focusing on disagreements.

"It is important to get the parties back to the negotiating table and continue the Beijing talks,'' Kong said.

The spokesman also announced British Prime Minister Tony Blair will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong during his upcoming official visit to China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with Blair, Kong said, noting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin will also meet him.

Blair will attend a seminar at Tsinghua University, and preside over a ceremony there inaugurating a research center for clean energy, Kong said.

Blair will address a China-Britain business symposium in Shanghai and in Hong Kong where Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa will meet with him, Kong said.

(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, July 18, 2003)