The working group of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue will hold its first meeting on May 12 in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan announced in Beijing Thursday.  

Kong told a regular news briefing that at present China has maintained close contact with related sides, discussing details of the arrangement of the meeting.

The meeting of the working group is the continuity of the six-party talks and one of its important components, and China hopes related sides make efforts for the smooth opening of the meeting, Kong said.

China hopes the first meeting of the working group will make good preparation for the third-round of six-party talks, Kong said.

Kong cited this meeting as one important step for resolving the Korean nuclear issue, and said China, as the host country, hopes that all sides can work in cooperation with each other to make good preparation for the third-round of six-party talks.

Ning Fu-kui, Chinese ambassador in charge of the Korean Peninsula affairs, will act as the representative of the Chinese side, Kong said.

The meeting will be closed-door and will be held in Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the same place the last round of talks was held.

As to when the meeting will conclude, it will hinge on the process of the meeting, he acknowledged.

Kong further noted that the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il, in his latest visit to China, said the DPRK is willing to attend the six-party talks and realize a nuclear-free peninsula.

The efforts made by all the six sides have played a crucial role for opening this meeting, added Kong.

The second round of the six-party talks, participated by China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, was held from Feb. 25 to 28 in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. During the talks, the six parties agreed to form a working group to prepare for the third-round of talks that is scheduled to be held from late June this year.

Also at yesterday's briefing, Kong said that China welcomes the UN resolution on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

Kong said China has always opposed the proliferation of WMDs and their carriers.

China supports the efforts made by the international community in this regard and stands for solving this issue through political and diplomatic channels, said Kong.

China appreciates the role that the United Nations has played, he said. "The resolution is based on the international laws and will strengthen international cooperation to solve related problems."

The UN Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday, urging all nations to adopt immediate actions to prevent WMDs from flowing to the terrorists or underground ammo markets.

Turning to the Iraq issue, Kong said that the Chinese government appreciates the efforts made by Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations special envoy for Iraq.

Kong said China hopes Iraq can smoothly resume its independence and sovereignty so as to realize peace, democracy and development as early as possible. China has noticed that Brahimi had made some suggestions on this issue.

China hopes the UN resolutions can help Iraq to realize peace and stability, Kong said, adding that the opinions of the Iraqi people and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should also be listened to.

Earlier this month Brahimi visited Iraq, exchanging views with different parties in Iraq on building up a transitional government.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2004)