BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that the inspection and destruction of chemical weapons in Syria and a political solution to the Syrian issue should be advanced together, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Wang made the plea at a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday in New York on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly, spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

At the meeting, both China and the United States agreed on the benefits of an early Security Council resolution on Syria's chemical weapons, and stressed the importance of unity among the 15 members of the council.

Wang said China would like to continue its constructive role in resolving Syria's crisis through peaceful means rather than military action.

On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, both sides are committed to denuclearization of the peninsula to safeguard the peace and stability there. China advocates that the reasonable concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be addressed, calling for more direct contact between the DPRK and the United States.

Wang said only when all parties in the nuclear talks come back to the Joint Statement of Sept. 19, 2005 and substantially implement their duties and obligations can the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue be solved.

On the Iran's nuclear issue, the foreign minister asked all parties to grasp current opportunity and start a fresh round of talks as soon as possible.

During the meeting, Wang also briefed Kerry on China's stance on the South China Sea, saying that the situation is stable and China has been in talks with claimant states.

He called on the United States to handle the issues objectively and fairly, and avoid remarks or action that may escalate the situation.

The foreign minister also explained China's position on human rights, according to Hong Lei.