BEIJING - China on Thursday said it expected a trilateral meeting in Washington next week to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, promote dialogue rather than inflame the situation.

"As the situation on the Korean Peninsular is highly complicated and sensitive, we expect the meeting to ease tensions and promote dialogue, rather than heighten tensions and intensify confrontation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said in a statement Thursday night.

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Jiang made the statement, referring to a meeting among the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK), which is scheduled for next Monday in Washington.

Jiang said all three countries were members of the Six-Party Talks, which grouped China,the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the ROK, the United States, Russia and Japan.

"We'll keep a close watch on what on earth this meeting is doing," Jiang said.

"We expect the three countries to take into account regional peace and stability and Korean Peninsula denuclearization and give a positive consideration to China's proposal," Jiang said.

In wake of the soaring tensions on the Korean Peninsula, China on Sunday called for emergency consultations among the heads of delegation to the Six-Party Talks in Beijing in early December.