Wang Yi, Chinese vice foreign minister and head of the Chinese
delegation, Wednesday urged all parties to the six-party talks to
show mutual respect and flexibility and narrow differences for the
success of the talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean
Peninsula.?
Wang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the second
round of the six-party talks, which started at 9:00 am Wednesday
and involves China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and
Japan.
Heads of all six parties made opening remarks at the Diaoyutai
State Guesthouse, also venue of the first round of the six-party
talks last August.
Wang said all sides now expect to discuss concrete problems and
score concrete results in the second round of talks, and the
current round of talks will discuss detailed goals, the first-phase
measures for resolving the nuclear issue and study ways to continue
the talks process.
The DPRK will adhere to principles while showing flexibility in
the six-party talks, said the DPRK delegation head and Deputy
Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan while US Assistant Secretary of State
and the US delegation Head James Kelly said the United States has
no intention to attack the DPRK.
Head of the delegation from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-Hyuck called
on all parties to adopt an earnest and tolerant attitude to expand
their consensus to realize denuclearization on the Korean
Peninsula.
Head of the Japanese delegation Mitoji Yabunaka said Japan is
ready to make active contribution to achieving substantial progress
of the talks, have conductive discussions with all relevant parties
and welcome all proposals and opinions raised at the talks.
Head of the Russian delegation and Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Alexander Losiukov said the resolution of the nuclear
issue will be a long-drawn process and entails compromise and
patience from all sides, and the Russian side wants to reiterate
that the ultimate goal of the talks is to guarantee peace, security
and cooperation on the basis of a nuclear-free Korean
Peninsula.
The talks have drawn worldwide attention. More than 30
journalists from major Chinese and foreign media were allowed into
the guesthouse. Outside the venue, another 100-strong reporters are
waiting as the talks are still going on at press time.
Outside the east gate of the guesthouse, an increasing number of
passers-by and reporters are gathering.
(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2004)