Premier Li met with Obama earlier this week. (Photo : Getty Images)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed Beijing's opposition to plans by Washington and Seoul to deploy an advanced missile-defense system in South Korea during his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in New York.
"It is hoped that all parties will avoid taking actions that lead to escalation of the tense situation," Li said.
The premier met Obama on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
The U.S. and South Korea agreed earlier in July to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the Korean peninsula, drawing criticism from both Beijing and Moscow. THAAD radar has a maximum reach of 2,000 km and could cover portions of China and Russia.
Tensions on the peninsula further intensified earlier this month after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test in an area near the China-North Korea border.
Li said China endorses the U.N. Security Council's plan for an additional response to the nuclear test by North Korea.
Beijing remains steadfast to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, ensuring peace and stability, and resolving issues in the region through dialogue and consultation, Li said.
According to a White House statement issued on Monday, both Obama and Li "resolved to strengthen coordination in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Zhang Tuosheng, director of the research department at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said that China should continue counteracting the THAAD deployment plan while strengthening cooperation between the US and South Korea in pushing for denuclearization of the peninsula.
"No efforts should be spared to resume the Six-Party Talks [responsible for the negotiations], and even if the resumption is unlikely, support should be given to other dialogue promoting peace on the peninsula and denuclearization," Zhang told China Daily in an interview.
Jia Xiudong, a senior researcher in international affairs at the China Institute of International Studies, said the North Korean nuclear tests and the US-South Korea plan to deploy THAAD are "pushing the peninsula situation to a deadlock, which serves no interest of any party."
The root cause of the nuclear issue is the mutual distrust brewing between the U.S. and North Korea, and the only way out is to resume dialogue, Jia said.
During their talk, Li and Obama also discussed upon bilateral trade and investment as well as global issues including sustainable development, refugee crises, and international peacekeeping.
