Wang Yi, Chinese vice foreign minister and head of the Chinese delegation, Wednesday urged all parties to the six-party talks to show mutual respect and flexibility and narrow differences for the success of the talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.  

Wang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the second round of the six-party talks, which started at 9:00 am Wednesday and involves China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.

Heads of all six parties made opening remarks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, also venue of the first round of the six-party talks last August.

Wang said all sides now expect to discuss concrete problems and score concrete results in the second round of talks, and the current round of talks will discuss detailed goals, the first-phase measures for resolving the nuclear issue and study ways to continue the talks process.

The DPRK will adhere to principles while showing flexibility in the six-party talks, said the DPRK delegation head and Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan while US Assistant Secretary of State and the US delegation Head James Kelly said the United States has no intention to attack the DPRK.

Head of the delegation from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-Hyuck called on all parties to adopt an earnest and tolerant attitude to expand their consensus to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Head of the Japanese delegation Mitoji Yabunaka said Japan is ready to make active contribution to achieving substantial progress of the talks, have conductive discussions with all relevant parties and welcome all proposals and opinions raised at the talks.

Head of the Russian delegation and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov said the resolution of the nuclear issue will be a long-drawn process and entails compromise and patience from all sides, and the Russian side wants to reiterate that the ultimate goal of the talks is to guarantee peace, security and cooperation on the basis of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

The talks have drawn worldwide attention. More than 30 journalists from major Chinese and foreign media were allowed into the guesthouse. Outside the venue, another 100-strong reporters are waiting as the talks are still going on at press time.

Outside the east gate of the guesthouse, an increasing number of passers-by and reporters are gathering.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2004)