China maintains that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free and that the security concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should also be addressed, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday on the eve of the opening of the Beijing six-party talks on the peninsula.

"Only through dialogue and talks can the peace and stability of the peninsula be safeguarded,'' Wang told the Chinese media yesterday.

The three-day talks are due to start today at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, involving China, the DPRK, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

Wang, also head of the Chinese delegation, separately met heads of the other five delegations on Monday and yesterday. All parties expressed their gratitude for China's efforts in initiating and proceeding with the talks.

He said yesterday that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula has always been China's basic stance in this area, with regard to the nuclear issue.

Wang noted that, when tension erupted again last October over the nuclear issue on the peninsula, then Chinese President Jiang Zemin clearly stated China's stance that the issue should be resolved peacefully when Jiang met George W. Bush at the US president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

This stance represents China's consistent position, Wang said.

"It serves the fundamental interests of all parties and has been welcomed by the international community and has also become the common consensus for resolving the issue at present,'' he said.

The root of the nuclear issue derives from the remaining shadow of the Cold War over the Korean Peninsula.

"The main views and stances between the DPRK and the United States came into confrontation, which led to the escalation of the situation,'' he said. The countries surrounding the peninsula, including China, have been concerned about the situation, Wang added.

"We oppose sanctions or putting on pressure and we oppose war even more so,'' he stressed.

Chinese leaders and government have so far made unremitting efforts to promote peace talks, he said.

Wang stressed that Pyongyang has made "important and resolute'' decisions with regard to the realization of the six-party talks. Washington and the other parties involved have also tabled important proposals for the talks, he added.

China has carried out several rounds of diplomatic mediation since March, Wang said.

Tripartite talks involving Beijing, Pyongyang and Washington were held in April, marking the first step towards a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue.

Chinese envoys shuttled between the different countries involved to push the peace talks process forward.

"We pay great heed to listening to the opinions of all sides, in particular the DPRK and the United States, and try to seek common points and draw out what is rational from all sides,'' he said.

"The format of the talks is important but the content is more important,'' he said. The talks are "dialogue on an equal footing with substantial content'' and a "channel'' to find a solution to the problems.

Beijing supports and welcomes all efforts that are conducive to promoting dialogue and pushing forward peace talks, he said.

"China, as the host of the talks, hopes all the parties will take into consideration the overall situation for the safeguarding of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, show sincerity to solve the issue, adopt a calm and patient attitude, respect each other, conduct consultations on an equal footing, seek common ground and reduce disputes so as to ensure the talks continue and yield peace,'' Wang said.

"Of course, the nuclear issue is very complicated and acute, and it is impossible to solve all problems through one or two rounds of talks, and some difficulties may arise during negotiations,'' he added.

Wang said that China would provide every facility to help promote the six-party talks.

"The coming-together of the six parties has itself given out a positive signal,'' Wang said. It shows the willingness of all the parties to settle disputes through peaceful means and demonstrates a spirit of reconciliation and cooperation, he said.

(China Daily August 27, 2003)