United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday welcomed the six-party talks being held in Beijing as "an encouraging development" that he hoped would strengthen peace and stability.

"I am hopeful that this process, however challenging and complicated it may be, will lead to solutions to your mutual and bilateral concerns, reducing tensions, and strengthening peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region," Annan said in a message to the six participants -- China, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), South Korea, Russia and the United States.

"This is an encouraging development that offers testimony to the will of your respective governments to find a negotiated solution to the crucial problems of the region," he said.

Annan assured the six parties of his active support and expressed the hope that their discussions would succeed.

The six-party talks opened in Beijing on Wednesday morning and are due to last three days.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2003)