HONG KONG (via PLDT/SMART) (2 November) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed today North Korea's declaration that it would resume the stalled Six-Party Talks, saying it was "good news for the region and the world."

In an interview with media at the Four Seasons Hotel here, the President also said she was "impressed by China's very hands-on role in resolving this issue," referring to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

President Arroyo arrived here Tuesday afternoon after attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) + China Commemorative Summit in Nanning, China where the group issued a strongly worded statement on Pyongyang's insistence at testing its nuclear capabilities.

The President, who sits as Chair of Asean, said that due to the proximity of China to North Korea, not to mention the heavy trade between the two countries, Beijing is in a better position to ask Pyongyang to cease its nuclear testing program.

"I was very impressed by China playing a very hands-on role in resolving this issue and I think that was very successful. The proof of the success is Pyongyang's declaration that they are going to resume the Six-Party Talks and that's really good news for the region and the world," the President said.