China endorses Trump's Kim Jong Un remarks

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- China welcomed Donald Trump's remarks on Monday, following the U.S. president's offer to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing China welcomes all direct contact between Washington and Pyongyang, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

"China hopes North Korea and the United States make direct contact," Hua said. "As direct authorities on the Korean peninsula, dialogue and contact between North Korea and the United States would help talks and negotiation return to the right track."

Hua also said all countries concerned with the North Korea nuclear issue should make an "active effort" to end the crisis.

"China welcomes words and actions that move in this direction," the spokeswoman said.

On Sunday, Trump said ahead of his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he remains "open" to meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, during an interview on Sharyl Attkisson's syndicated show Full Measure.

"I would sit with anybody I feel," Trump said. "I don't think it's strength or weakness. I think sitting down with people is not a bad thing. So I would certainly be open to doing that."

Ahead of Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week, China's state tabloid Global Times slammed statements from Trump and Abe.

Trump and Abe had announced a "shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," which includes the promotion of balanced trade "across the Indo-Pacific, by taking additional steps bilaterally to advance these objectives."

China has been promoting a Beijing-led initiative to grow investment and trade in the region through its "One Belt, One Road" initiative.

"By providing security ties, the United States is trying to extract economic benefits from the Asia-Pacific alliance," the Global Times stated.

Trump has said China has imposed "unfair" trade policies, but also said he has a good relationship with Xi, and called Xi a "friend" during a press conference in Tokyo on Monday.