The U.S. says it recognizes the role that China plays in attempting to negotiate with North Korea.

Asked about head of the international department of China’s Communist Party Wang Jiarui’s planned visit to Pyongyang, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said in a regular news briefing that top Chinese officials have regular dialogue with North Korea.

He said that the U.S. has sent North Korea a direct and consistent message that Pyongyang should return to the six-party nuclear talks and take positive measures toward denuclearization.