Six-party talks may open next month
( 2003-11-11 22:19) (Xinhua)
The second round of the
six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue will hopefully be held in December,
said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tuesday.
During a regular press conference, Liu Jianchao said that if all sides work
together, and preparation goes well and differences reduce, the second round of
talks is very likely to be held before the end of this year.
China hopes it can be held "as early as possible", he said.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed this issue with the US side
last Thursday and Friday. Dai Bingguo, another Chinese vice foreign minister,
met with related officials of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Monday and will visit
Japan Wednesday.
Liu said China and the United States have reached consensus on peacefully
resolving the Korean nuclear issue and pushing six- party talks. They also
exchanged views on preparation for the second round of talks. The two sides
agreed to maintain contact and hoped all sides would contribute to an early
opening of the talks.
China and the ROK, Liu said, reiterated that peacefully resolving the Korean
nuclear issue is their common goal and they are willing to push the progress
forward.
The six parties, which are the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China,
the United States, Russia, the ROK and Japan, held the first round talks in
Beijing last August.
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