China hopes
the six-party talks could restart ahead of the Chinese Lunar New
Year in mid-February, said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday. Chinese Lunar New
Year, or Spring Festival, falls on Feb. 18.
"The six-party talks constitute the realistic and effective way
to solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula," Tang told
the visiting Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Song
Min-soon.
"Recently the parties concerned have carried out helpful
contacts and reached some consensus," said Tang, stating that and
China and the ROK will aim to resume the talks at an early
date.
Song, who began his three-day official visit to China on
Thursday, announced that the ROK is committed to a peaceful
solution to the nuclear issue and aims to work closely with China
to this end.
Later in the evening, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and
Song held official talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in
downtown Beijing.
Both sides conferred on bilateral ties and global issues of
common concern, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao earlier confirmed that
the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is part of Song's agenda on this
visit. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is also scheduled to meet with
him on Friday.
Song's visit, coming amidst a flurry of diplomatic
globetrotting, comprises part of renewed efforts to restart the
six-party talks, which involve China, the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the ROK, Japan and
Russia.
All these efforts are of "positive meaning" and lay a foundation
for an early resumption of the six-party talks, Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told reporters Thursday, adding that
China is consulting with all relevant parties on a “specific time”
for resumption.
Relevant parties have reached some understanding, Jiang noted,
adding that all parties have expressed their will to resume the
six-party talks as soon as possible.
The DPRK said Wednesday the next round of talks aims to initiate
the implementation of an agreement signed in 2005.
Kim Kye-gwan, head of the DPRK delegation, said he was satisfied
with the results of the talks with the United States, Russia, China
and the ROK on how to implement the Sept. 19 agreement.
The DPRK and the United States held long-awaited one-on-one
contact and reportedly come to some agreements.
All parties expressed hope for progress on implementing the
September 2005 joint statement, through which the DPRK would
dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for economic aid and
security guarantees.
(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)
