China yesterday called on parties concerned to strive for "substantial"
progress out of the six-party talks scheduled to open next Monday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China hopes parties concerned take
"open, flexible and pragmatic" attitude so as to help the talks yield
substantial progress.
China on Monday announced the six-party talks, involving China,the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea
(ROK), Russia and Japan, is due to resume in Beijing on Dec. 18 after its last
session in November 2005.
"The resumption of the talks resulted from joint efforts from all parties
concerned," Qin told a regular press briefing.
During the fresh round of talks, parties concerned will exchange viewpoints
on their respective concerns through bilateral and multilateral consultations,
in a bid to fully implement the September 2005 joint statement, according to the
spokesman.
At the end of October, chief negotiators of China, the DPRK andthe United
States held a closed-door meeting in Beijing and agreedto resume the talks.
"Whether the talks can achieve progress depends on joint efforts from all
parties concerned," he said.
"Whether the talks can succeed lies in whether parties concerned are working
closely towards the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Qin
added.
In late November, chief negotiators of the DPRK, the United States, the ROK
and Japan arrived in Beijing in trips aimed at laying the groundwork for the
resumption of the talks.
Launched in 2003, the six-party talks are aimed at finding a solution to the
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
However, the talks have been stalled since last November as the DPRK refused
to return to the talks because of U.S. sanctions against it.