China: Six-party talks to resume from Sep 12
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-08-31 09:59

An official from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in Beijing Tuesday the fourth round of six-party talks on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will be resumed in the week of Sept. 12.

"Through efforts by parties concerned, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has agreed to return to the six-party talks," said He Yafei, director of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry.

He briefed a press conference on President Hu's upcoming state visits to the United States, Canada, Mexico from Sept. 5 to 17. Hu will also attend the United Nations' summit marking the 60th anniversary of its founding, He said.

"During Chinese President Hu's visit to the United States, the two leaders will touch upon this nuclear issue," said He.

He gave no specific time for the resumption of the talks, saying China is working with other parties on the timetable.

Earlier this month, the fourth-round six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, entered a three-week recess and all the parties agreed to resume the talks in the week beginning from Aug. 29.

However, the DPRK on Monday refused to rejoin the talks as scheduled.

The parties concerned have conducted extensive consultations during the recess, said He, "China has made efforts for resuming the talks."

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei visited Japan and DPRK, and Cui Tiankai, director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Department, visited the United States and the ROK, He Yafei said.

He said the main obstacle in the first-stage of the talks is that the parties concerned have differences on the scope of nuclear dismantlement and the DPRK's right of peaceful use of nuclear power.

"China hopes the parties concerned could continue to take constructive attitude, increase mutual trust and jointly explore ways to tackle problems so that the talks can come up with outcome," said He.

He said that the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is so complicated that it cannot be solved through merely several rounds of the talks. "There is still a long way to go."