BEIJING — China voiced support for contact between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and hoped for positive outcome of vice-ministerial talks between the two countries.

“Being their friendly neighbors, China always supports the two countries to conduct dialogue and contact to improve relations and promote reconciliation and cooperation, and to contribute to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula with joint efforts,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

She made the remarks while commenting the first vice-ministerial talks between the two neighbors held at a joint industrial complex in the DPRK’s border city of Kaesong on Dec 11.