China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have held comprehensive and in-depth discussions on nuclear issue involving the DPRK and the forthcoming six-party nuclear talks in Beijing.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who will wrap up his three-day visit to the DPRK on Saturday, met DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il and DPRK First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju on Thursday and Friday respectively.

China and the DPRK hope that the forthcoming six-party nuclear talks will strengthen prospects for a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue through dialogue.

The DPRK announced on Monday that the six-party nuclear talks would be held in Beijing. The participants will include the DPRK, the United States, China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia. But the specific time and venue for the talks are still unknown.

It is reported that diplomats from the United States, Japan and ROK will meet in Washington on August 13 and 14 to coordinate policy on DPRK ahead of the talks.

(China Daily August 9, 2003)