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China calls for progress at talks

Focus on denuclearisation: Beijing

BEIJING: China on Tuesday called on parties concerned to strive for ``substantial'' progress out of the six-party talks scheduled to open next Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China hopes parties concerned take ``open, flexible and pragmatic'' attitude so as to help the talks yield substantial progress.

China on Monday announced the six-party talks, involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, is due to resume in Beijing on December 18 after its last session in November 2005.

Joint efforts

``The resumption of the talks resulted from joint efforts from all parties concerned,'' Mr. Qin told a regular press briefing.

During the fresh round of talks, parties concerned will exchange viewpoints on their respective concerns through bilateral and multilateral consultations, in a bid to fully implement the September 2005 joint statement, according to the spokesman.

At the end of October, chief negotiators of China, the DPRK and the United States held a closed-door meeting in Beijing and agreed to resume the talks.

``Whether the talks can achieve progress depends on joint efforts from all parties concerned,'' he said.

``Whether the talks can succeed lies in whether parties concerned are working closely towards the goal of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,'' Mr. Qin added.

In late November, chief negotiators of the DPRK, the U.S., the ROK and Japan arrived in Beijing in trips aimed at laying the groundwork for the resumption of the talks.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks are aimed at finding a solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

However, the talks have been stalled since last November as the DPRK refused to return to the talks because of U.S. sanctions against it. — Xinhua

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