*Beijing: *South Korea’s national security adviser on Monday thankedChinese President Xi Jinping for his “big role” in the diplomatic processthat has set up a historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Just days after he stood outside the White House and announced the plannedmeet between the US president and the North Korean leader, Chung Eui-yongwas in Beijing to brief Xi and China’s top diplomats on the fast-movingefforts to address the nuclear standoff.

Trump and Kim have agreed to meet by the end of May, although they have yetto confirm a date or time.

“The situation on the Korean peninsula has recently undergone very positivechanges. President Moon Jae-in believes that the leadership of the Chinesegovernment, especially the leadership ability of President Xi has played abig role in this,” Chung told Xi at the Great Hall of the People.

Chung said Xi’s “unwavering” commitment to the denuclearisation of theKorean peninsula and a peaceful settlement played a “significant” part inthe recent developments.

“We are very grateful to China for its consistent position,” he said.

“Once again, we expect that China will continue to play an active andleading role and the South Korean government will continue to coordinateclosely with China.”

Chung renewed Moon’s invitation for Xi to visit Seoul. The South Koreanleader visited Beijing in December on a trip aimed at thawing tensebilateral relations strained over Seoul’s decision to host a US missiledefence system that Beijing sees as a threat to its own security.

Xi said Chung had achieved “positive results” in his visits to North Koreaand the United States last week, which led to the diplomatic breakthrough.

Xi did not say more about the North Korean nuclear crisis, but he saidChina’s relations with South Korea have “maintained a good momentum ofimprovement”.

Earlier, China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi told Chung that Beijing “willcontinue to realise the goal of denuclearisation, uphold the peacefulunification of the peninsula, and solve problems through dialogue andconsultation.”

China, which has repeatedly pressed the US and North Korea to hold talks,has urged Xi and Kim to hold their meeting as soon as possible.

Beijing has played a key role in implementing UN sanctions on the North,which are believed to have put immense pressure on the country’s fragileeconomy.

China is North Korea’s only diplomatic ally and its most important tradepartner.

Still, some in China are afraid the country, which hosted failed six-nationtalks on the nuclear issue a decade ago, could be cut out of negotiationson denuclearising the Korean peninsula. – Agencies