Chinese Foreign Ministry Li Zhaoxing today urged negotiators to show flexibility and hold a pragmatic attitude to seek "positive" progress in the new round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Li said that realizing the a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintaining long-term regional peace and stability is in the interests of all parties concerned.

"Adhering to the process of peaceful talks is the sole correct choice," he said.

China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan are involved in the talks.

Li said the the six parties reached a consensus in the last three rounds of talks on three aspects, including adhering to the goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, the direction of the process of peaceful talks and maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.

He said all the parties should cherish the consensus, which was also broadly welcomed by the international community.

The fourth-round six-party talks was originally scheduled for September last year. Li said after waiting for more than one year,the international community is expecting new progress in the new round of talks.

The six-party talks is a realistic and effective way to solve disputes, he said, hoping that all the participants would improve consultation based on the foundation laid during the last three rounds of talks, enhance mutual understanding by shelving differences and seeking common views to achieve positive progress.

As differences remained, "The talks will probably encounter various difficulties and disturbance," the Chinese foreign minister said.

However, he believed that through a step-by-step process, the solution would be finally reached.

The Chinese side will continue to coordinate and cooperate withthe other parties and make unremitting efforts to realize a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintain regional peace and stability, he said.