China will encourage and support all efforts conducive to dialogues and its delegation will continue its efforts to press ahead with the talks, Zhang Qiyue, a Chinese delegate to the third round of six-party talks, said in Beijing Wednesday.

Zhang, also deputy director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Information Department, made the remarks at a press conference held by the Chinese delegation right after the first-day full-member session talks, which started with an opening ceremony at 3:00 p.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m. during the day.

The third round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, is being held from Wednesday to Saturday.

Zhang said the first-day session heard a report of the second working group meeting and all the delegations present spoke highly of the efforts made by the working group.

She described the mood of the first-day session as "serious and pragmatic" and said all the parties showed a positive, flexible attitude and readiness to cooperate with each other so as to contribute to the progress for the entire talks.

All parties unanimously agreed this round of talks should make progress to some extent, said Zhang, citing the proposal of the US delegation for making progress on substantial issues, the idea of the DPRK delegation to break the deadlock and make efforts for this end and the suggestion of the ROK delegation on conducting all-round and substantial talks pertaining to substantial issues.

All the six parties had prepared themselves fully for the talks, with the DPRK, the US and the ROK delegations all setting forth their own proposals at the first-day session, she acknowledged.

These proposals, filled with substantial contents, indicated the positive attitude of the relevant parties toward seeking the solutions to the issue, according to Zhang.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is a very complex one and it is very normal for various parties to differ in their respective views.

"Divergence is still prevalent, but the tabling of concrete, detailed plans by various parties itself indicates the in-depth progress of the talks," she said.

Although the talks were unfolding at the beginning, noted Zhang, the substantial issues were dealt with, said Zhang. The Chinese delegation will study the detailed proposals made by the related parties in a profound way and will continue its active efforts to press ahead with the talks.

Those at the first-day session extended their welcome to the new head of the Russian delegation and denounced the atrocities of beheading an ROK hostage in Iraq as well as the terrorist attack in Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2004)