Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday confirmed that
China has invited the United States and the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Beijing to discuss the DPRK nuclear
issue.
"We hope the talks will help the parties to understand each other's
positions more clearly and ease the current tension,'' said Liu at
the regular briefing.
Liu said the Chinese delegation will be headed by Fu Ying, director
of the Department of Asian Affairs under the Foreign Ministry.
James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for Asia and Pacific
affairs, reportedly arrived in Beijing Tuesday for the nuclear
talks in Beijing which are scheduled to start Wednesday. The DPRK
delegation is believed to be headed by Li Gun, deputy director of
US affairs at the DPRK Foreign Ministry.
The meeting will be the first of its kind after tension escalated
last autumn on the Korean Peninsula over the DPRK's nuclear
program.
The situation appeared to improve after the DPRK agreed more than a
week ago not to stick to any particular dialogue format for
settlement of the nuclear issue if the United States drops its
anti-DPRK policy.
Liu said China is very concerned about the issue and made great
efforts to promote peace and encourage talks between the two
countries.
China has all along insisted the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
At
last Thursday's briefing, Liu called for the "political will'' and
"sincerity'' in enabling dialogues to take place to break the
stalemate over the nuclear tension on the Korean Peninsula.
Liu Tuesday reiterated that China supports peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula as well as its non-nuclearization, adding the
security concerns of the DPRK should also be acted upon.
"All parties should create conditions for the peaceful resolution
of the (DPRK nuclear) issue, and refrain from taking action that
would complicate the situation,'' said Liu.
Chinese FM to Visit Kazakhstan
At
the invitation of Kasymzhomart Tokayev, state secretary and
minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will pay an official visit to
Kazakhstan and attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Almaty from April 26 to 30,
Liu announced at the press conference.
French Prime Minister to Visit China
At
the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, French Prime Minister
Jean-Pierre Raffarin will pay an official visit to China from April
25 to 26, Liu said at the press conference.
(Sources from China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, April 23,
2003)