BEIJING - China said on Thursday that it supports and welcomes any contacts and dialogues between all the relevant parties, while vowing to continue efforts to lead the situation on the Korean Peninsula toward a favorable direction.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks following Pyongyang's offer of "unconditional" negotiations with Seoul on the way to demolish misunderstanding and distrust as well as achieve peace and prosperity.

"China always believes that dialogue and consultation are the only effective approach to solving peninsula-related issues," Hong told reporters at the regular press briefing.

"We support and welcome relevant parties to have contact and dialogue, and make active interactions to jointly steer the situation to a desirable direction," he said.

He added that China will continue to play a constructive role to this end.

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday proposed unconditional dialogue with the Republic of Korea (ROK) as soon as possible, according to its official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).

The statement is seen as containing Pyongyang's most conciliatory remarks since the situation on the Korean Peninsula began to heat up in November.

Though Beijing expressed its welcome to Pyongyang's announcement, both Seoul and Washington reacted coolly to the proposal.

United States State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters in Washington that Pyongyang had to first show seriousness of purpose.

He said that there has to be an appropriate context - and there are things that Pyongyang has to show that it is prepared to have a sustained and constructive dialogue.

Echoing Washington's view, the ROK government dismissed Pyongyang's offer and dubbed it as insincere.

Under such circumstances, Beijing on Thursday again urged the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

"The Six-Party Talks have been stalled for two years. We hope parties concerned could make concerted efforts to resume the talks as soon as possible," Hong said.

Beijing's call came as the US top envoy on the DPRK wrapped up a lightning visit to China focused on reducing tensions on the peninsula.

Stephen Bosworth, who is on a regional trip, met on Thursday with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and China's special representative on the Korean Peninsula affairs Wu Dawei.

Meanwhile, US embassy spokesman Richard Buangan said in a written statement that the two sides had useful consultations on how to coordinate moving forward in dealing with the DPRK.

Bosworth was headed to Tokyo on Thursday, the last stop of his Asian trip that also included Seoul.

Analysts say Pyongyang's move had showed its eagerness for the resumption of aid as it gears up for 2012 - the year it has pledged to become a prosperous and powerful nation.

Zhang Liangui, an expert on Korean affairs at the Central Party School said that, by far, the parties involved haven't narrowed their gaps on what the Six-Party Talks should focus on.

The US and its allies insist on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, while the DPRK seeks to discuss how to improve relations with the US while acquiring economic aid.

Cheng Guangjin contributed to this story.