Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing late on Monday held talks with his British counterpart Margaret Beckett in a previously arranged telephone call, exchanging views on the nuclear test by North Korea.

 

Beckett said that the British side had noted the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the test, and regarded it as responsible and forceful.

 

She said that Britain was willing to work with China and other members of the UN Security Council, in a bid to appropriately tackle the issue.

 

Li, for his part, reaffirmed the consistent stance of the Chinese government, saying China was ready to keep close contacts with all the parties concerned, including Britain.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2006)