China on Thursday voiced hopes that a new draft U.N. resolution could help prevent North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programs, but emphasized the "parallel track approach" of achieving the denuclearization of North Korea and discussing a peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to an announcement by the White House that the U.S. and China agreed on a draft U.N. resolution to punish North Korea's nuclear and missile tests this year.

"A new U.N. resolution is just around the corner," Hua told a regular press briefing. "We hope that it can help prevent North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programs."

"At the same time, we believe that sanctions are not the fundamental way to solve this issue," Hua said. "We hope that all parties can go back to the negotiating table."

Hua repeated a proposal by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and efforts to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War should be pursued at the same time, echoing a demand by North Korea. The Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

"The parallel track approach is a reasonable one. It highlights the overriding goal of denuclearizing the peninsula at the same time it seeks to address the major concerns of the various parties," Hua said. (Yonhap)