Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing?urged negotiators today to show flexibility and
pragmatism in seeking "positive" progress in the new round
of?six-party
talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
Li said at the opening session of the fourth round of talks that
realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintaining long-term
regional peace and stability are in the interests of all parties
concerned.
"Adhering to the process of peaceful talks is the sole correct
choice," he said.
China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South Korea are taking
part in the talks.
Li said the six parties reached a consensus in the last three
rounds of talks on: the goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean
Peninsula, the direction of the process of peaceful talks and
maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
He said all the parties should cherish the consensus, which was
also broadly welcomed by the international community.
The fourth round of six-party talks was originally scheduled for
September last year, and Li said that after waiting for more than a
year between rounds, the international community is expecting new
progress in the new one.
The talks represent a realistic and effective way to solve
disputes, he said, hoping that all participants will improve
consultation based on the foundations laid during the last three
rounds of talks, and enhance mutual understanding by shelving
differences and seeking consensus to achieve progress.
As differences remained, "The talks are likely to encounter
various difficulties or setbacks," Li said, but he believed that
through a gradual process, solutions will be found.
The Chinese side will continue to coordinate and cooperate with
the other parties and make unremitting efforts to realize a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintain regional peace and
stability, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2005)