China welcomes and supports the dialogues and contacts between Washington and Pyongyang, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday.

He was responding to a question over the latest announcement of U.S. President Barack Obama on sending special envoy Stephen Bosworth to Pyongyang next month for bilateral talks.

"We hope their dialogues and contacts will help resume the six-party talks at an early date, facilitate the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula, and safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and in the region," Qin said.

He expressed belief that the efforts were made within the framework of the six-party talks and formed part of the talks process. China was in close contacts with parties concerned on the arrangement of future six-party talks, he added.

At a joint news conference in Seoul with President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Obama said his nuclear envoy Stephen Bosworth will go to Pyongyang on Dec. 8 to start bilateral talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The DPRK, who has boycotted the six-party talks since April, has called for direct talks with the United States to find a solution to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The United States has agreed to the talks but stressed the talks should lead to the resumption of six-party talks and be guided by the six-party mechanism, which also involves China, Japan, the ROK and Russia.

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