"We appreciate the position of the DPRK in solving this issue through dialogue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at a regular briefing.

The DPRK said on Saturday that it will not stick to any particular dialogue format for settlement of the nuclear issue if the US drops its anti-DPRK policy, a change from its past stance insisting on bilateral talks with the US.

Since tension escalated over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula last autumn, China has pushed for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

"We think the format of the dialogue is not important, and that the key lies in the sincerity of the parties concerned to resolve the issue," said Liu. "We hope that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula will soon embark upon a road to a peaceful resolution."

Liu declined to specify which countries should be included in the multilateral dialogues, saying that it is up to the parties concerned to decide.

"China has never said that it is opposed to the participation of any party in such a multilateral dialogue," Liu said when asked if Japan and Russia will be involved. "We are open to any plan that is in the interest of a peaceful solution."

He said that up to now no specific plan has been discussed.

"We believe that the nuclear issue can be settled through peaceful processes such as dialogue and we hope that the relevant parties will work toward this end," said Liu.

No Staff of Iraqi Embassy in China Seeking Asylum

Turning to the situation in Iraq, he said China will respect the decision of the Iraqi people.

"We hope that the Iraq war will end at an early date and that the Iraqi people will lead a life of peace and stability soon," said Liu, stressing that it is a principle of China's foreign policy to respect the choice of the people of other countries concerning their social systems, development directions and leaders.

Meanwhile, Liu said that no one with the Iraqi mission in Beijing has asked for asylum from China. He added that China will handle the issue concerning the status of the mission by following international laws and related Chinese laws.

Investigation of the Attack on Chinese Passengers Goes on

Liu also briefed the press on the attack on Chinese passengers aboard a bus bound for the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on March 27. Twenty-one people were killed in the incident in Kyrghyzstan, including 18 Chinese.

Liu said the two countries are cooperating closely in the investigation, adding Kyrghyzstan has also promised that it will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in the country.

A China News Service report said that the bodies of 15 Chinese victims were carried back to Xinjiang yesterday.

WIPO Summit Postponement Regrettable

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the postponement of the Summit on Intellectual Property and Knowledge Economy, planned for April 24 to 26 in Beijing, was regrettable.

Liu Jianchao noted that China agreed to host the summit at the request of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

China attached great importance to the summit and made a great effort to prepare for it, he said. "We are very regretful at the decision of the WIPO a few days ago saying that the summit could not be held as scheduled."

The WIPO announced on its official website that it "greatly regrets" that the summit "cannot be held as scheduled owing to prevailing circumstances."

"New dates and other relevant information regarding this event will be made available on the WIPO website in due course," said the announcement.

China expressed its thanks to all parties that had been actively involved in preparing for the summit, Liu said, and was willing to join with them to go on contributing to the growth of world intellectual property.

Chinese FM to Attend SCO FM Meeting

Chinese Foreign Minster Li Zhaoxing is expected to visit Kazakhstan later this month and attend the foreign ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the visit.

"The meeting is very important and will make preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit in Moscow," spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

Participants of the SCO FM meeting will confer on the Iraq issue and other international issues of common concern, he said, adding that "I believe the exchange of views will be helpful."

(Edited from China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, April 16, 2003)