The second round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue continues to hold plenary meeting in Beijing Thursday.

In the afternoon, some bilateral consultations will be held, sources said. The talks are close-door meeting.

Sources said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet here Thursday with the delegates.

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, at a reception Wednesday evening he held for all delegations, discussions and direct contacts during the first day of the six-party talks marked "an important beginning" for seeking a solution.     

He hoped all sides would not avoid differences in discussions in the coming days. All sides, however, "should not allow differences to impede the process of the dialogues, even divert the direction of seeking political solution to the problem", he said.

The talks began Wednesday, with a plenary meeting held on the morning and direct contacts between the delegations on the afternoon.

At a press briefing on Wednesday evening, Liu Jianchao, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry Information Department, said delegates to the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue have been earnest, practical and frank in their speeches.

Liu, who is also one member of the Chinese delegation, said the first day of the second round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue has seen "certain consensus" reached among delegations, although disparities remain.

The duration of the talks depends on how the talks are going on, said Liu.

Heads of the six delegations are Wang Yi, Chinese vice foreign minister, Kim Kye-gwan, deputy foreign minister of the DPRK, Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Lee Soo-Hyuck, the ROK's deputy minister of foreign affairs and trade, Alexander Losiukov, Russian deputy foreign minister, and James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs of the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2004)