Reader's question:Diplomats privy to the closed-door talks say China,Russia,Libya and Vietnam were concerned about further alienating and destabilizing North Korea. Could you explain “closed-door talk”?

Closed-door talks are also called behind-the-door talks.

If a meeting is held behind closed doors, it’s not open to everybody. And if a deal is made, only a few people who are at the meeting know it.

Now what does that mean? It means secrecy, yes, and it often implies that something shady might be going on.

In this case, something that China, Russia, Libya and Viet Nam may not want to hear might have been discussed during the so-called “closed-door” talks.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.