Russian and Japanese delegations for the second round of six-party talks met in Beijing Tuesday. The two sides said after the meeting that they both support the progress of the talks and hope it could fruit in some result, sources said. 

 

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 will begin Wednesday.

 

Russian and Japanese delegates exchanged views on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue and elaborated their stance on the question during their one-and-half-hour closed-door consultation, said sources with the Russian embassy, which hosted the bilateral meeting.

 

Russian head of delegation and Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov said after the meeting that Russia's stance was basically the same with that of China, which was very conducive to promoting the six-party talks.

 

Losiukov said Russia and Japan hold common views on some issues, but differences did exist between Russia, the United States, Japan, and ROK. That will not affect the talks, he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)