BEIJING. April 8 (Interfax-AVN) - China has no plans to discuss North Korea's recent launch of a rocket carrying a satellite at an upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand, an assistant to the Chinese foreign minister told a briefing on Wednesday.
"This satellite is a special issue. I do not think that the heads of government should discuss it," the diplomat said.
The Chinese authorities call on "all the parties concerned to act with restraint and patience" and to solve this problem through consultations, he said.
Pyongyang's recent rocket launch will not be addressed either at the ASEAN summit or a working breakfast of the prime ministers of China, Japan and South Korea, "but it could emerge during bilateral meetings of [Chinese Prime Minister] Wen Jiabao," the diplomat said.
The Chinese prime minister will attend several events as part of the ASEAN summit. He will also take part in a summit of Eastern Asian countries.