China's Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with
officials from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on?Saturday. The
meeting came ahead of crucial six-nation talks aimed at resolving
the standoff over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's
nuclear weapons programme.
Heading into talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuch in
Seoul, Wang said China hopes that joint efforts could secure
concrete results at the second round of meetings.
"I expect the ROK will play a constructive and active role in
resolving the nuclear issue peacefully, not only for its national
interest but also for security and peace in the region",
he?said.?
Lee agreed, and was optimistic about the upcoming six-party
talks, which are due to begin on February 25.
Lee?said: "I expect today's discussion between ROK and
China will become a footstone for the success of the second round
of the six-nation talks."
Pyongyang has offered to freeze all its nuclear activities as a
first step to resolving the nuclear dispute. But it also demands
Washington provides free oil shipments, lifts economic sanctions
and removes the DPRK from its list of countries that sponsor
terrorism.
The DPRK, the ROK, China, the US, Russia and Japan met for talks
late last August in Beijing. But that first round ended without
much progress.
(CCTV February 15, 2004)