Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said Thursday that the on-going six-party talks had entered a pivotal phase of discussing abolishing nuclear programs, safeguarding security and enhancing economic cooperation.

Tang made the remarks while meeting with delegation heads and diplomatic envoys in China, saying China was glad that the second round talks had started well.

He said all sides attached great significance to the talks, and had been fully prepared. They also hoped the talks would yield good results.

Tang expressed the hope that all sides would show mutual respect, exercise maximum flexibility and explore feasible solutions.

The Korean Peninsula was the only area of the world that remained under the shadow of the Cold War, Tang said, noting the nuclear issue had posed serious challenges to regional peace and development.

"However, if we can take resolving the nuclear question as an opportunity to gradually narrow disparities, expand consensus and build mutual trust, we will likely turn the challenges into opportunities and bring benefits to all sides, and create a more peaceful and secure regional environment."

China had always maintained that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free, while the rational security concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should also be resolved, so it would have a normal development environment and there could be lasting peace and stability in northeast Asia, he said.

Heads of the delegations to the six-party talks said the talks were constructive, and had provided unprecedented opportunities for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue. They pledged further efforts toward the final resolution of the issue.

The visiting sides – the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan – thanked the Chinese side for the thoughtful arrangements, and expressed appreciation for the active role of coordination China had played in the talks.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2004)