James Andrew Kelly, the United States assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon to discuss the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with Chinese officials.  

After a three-day visit to Japan, Kelly will exchange views with China on the preparation of a new round of six-party talks, US-China relations and other important international issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news briefing in Beijing Tuesday, while providing no further details.

Kelly is scheduled to leave Beijing for Seoul later Wednesday, the last stop of his three-nation Asian tour.

When asked to comment on a DPRK statement that with a US offer of written security assurances, the DPRK would consider to abandon its nuclear programs conditionally, Liu said the Chinese side welcomes the declaration.

On November 16, a spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry said that the DPRK will maintain the invariable stand to seek a negotiated peaceful solution to the nuclear issue, and is willing to take into consideration the US offer of "written assurances of non-aggression."

The DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman also declared that the DPRK is ready to abandon in practice its nuclear program under certain conditions.

Liu said that the Chinese side welcomes the declaration by the DPRK Foreign Ministry, which is regarded as another important and positive message to the international community, indicating the sincere attitude of the DPRK side to solve the nuclear issue.

Liu said such declarations will help resume the negotiated process for the solution of the nuclear issue, which will be appreciated by all parties and the international community.

The Chinese side hopes that all parties will take positive steps to peacefully solve the nuclear issue, ahead of an early opening of the second round of six-party talks, said Liu.

Turning to the topic of the proposed Sino-Russian oil pipeline project, the spokesman said China has noticed reports that Russia has refused construction of the oil transmission pipeline from Angarsk oil fields in eastern Siberia to refineries in northeast China.

He said Sino-Russian cooperation in the oil sector, consistent with the economic development of the two countries, is a most important part of bilateral economic and energy cooperation.

When Premier Wen Jiabao met his counterpart Mikhail Kasyanov this September, China and Russia chose to continue to implement their cooperation in the energy field, he said.

That means the two sides will boost cooperation between companies in oil pipeline construction, oil field exploitation, and oil and natural gas exports to China according to a joint statement signed by the two countries' top leaders on May 27.

Liu said he believes the two countries would honor their commitments.

Responding to the US Central Intelligence Agency's report that nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan is suspected involving nuclear weapons, Liu said China is a contracting party of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and firmly opposes any form of proliferation of nuclear weapons.

He said the cooperation on nuclear power between China and Pakistan is strictly for peaceful purposes and does not infringe on any obligation under the non-proliferation treaty.

"China is willing to receive safeguards and supervision from the International Atomic Energy Agency,'' said Liu.

The spokesman also noted that several foreign military delegations are visiting China, including an Indian delegation headed by Mohinder Singh, general officer commanding 4 corps.

The Indian delegation has visited bases and colleges in Beijing, and will visit Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China, and Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"The ongoing visit of an Indian military delegation is normal and friendly,'' said Liu.

(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, November 19, 2003)