Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks in Beijing this morning at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

"We hope all relevant parties will keep cool-headed, adopt a prudent and responsible attitude and adhere to dialogue," Li told reporters following his one-hour talks with Rice.

"China would like to work more closely with relevant parties to break the stalemate and resume the stalled Six-Party Talks," Li said.

Rice said the nuclear test announcement of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was "a serious provocation" and it "poses threat" to international peace and security.

"We talked about the importance of the full implementation of (UN resolution) 1718 so we can make certain there is not a transit and trade in illegal materials, dangerous illegal materials, concerning the nuclear program of the DPRK," Rice said.

"We also talked about the importance of leaving open a path of negotiations of the Six-Party Talks," she said.

Rice said, "Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush are committed to diplomatic solution of this problem."

"The DPRK should return to the Six-Party Talks without condition," Rice said, adding that the DPRK should begin the implementation of the September 2005 agreement of the Six-Party Talks.

The two sides also spoke positively of the current development of China-U.S. ties and their effective cooperation and consultations on major international and regional issues.

Li said China and the United States are both stakeholders and strategic partners. The two sides should go on working for the implementation of consensus reached by President Hu and President Bush.

"We are committed to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation, and appropriately address differences so as to push forward the steady and healthy development of bilateral ties," Li said.

Li also expressed China's appreciation for Bush administration's firm adherence to the one-China policy, abidance to the three China-U.S. joint communiqués and opposition to the "Taiwan independence."

Stressing shared desire to continue strategic dialogues, Rice said, "We have a lot of strategic dialogues on the way and we commit to continue our discussions."

Li and Rice also discussed the Iran nuclear issue and the Darfur issue of Sudan.

Li reaffirmed that China will play a constructive role in resolving the Iran nuclear issue through negotiations.

Shortly afterwards, Rice will meet with President Hu, Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

Rice's visit came amid international efforts to ease the tension arising from the DPRK nuclear test on October 9.

China is the third leg of Rice's four-nation tour, which has taken her to Japan and the Republic of Korea. She is also scheduled to visit Russia following her China trip.