Beijing says forum not exclusive after US remarks against N. Korea

BEIJING: China welcomes all countries to participate in the forum on China’s new Silk Road plan, the Foreign Ministry said, after the United States warned China that North Korea’s attendance could affect other countries’ participation.

Two sources with knowledge of the situation said the US embassy in Beijing had submitted a diplomatic note to China’s foreign ministry, saying that inviting North Korea sent the wrong message at a time when the world was trying to pressure Pyongyang over its repeated missile and nuclear tests.