South Korean chief negotiator to the six-party talks Song Min-soon urged in Beijing Wednesday all parties to have more patience in the new round of talks.

The path is still "open" for all sides to implement the joint statement through consultations, Song told reporters when leaving the hotel to attend the fifth round of the six-party talks, which opened in Beijing Wednesday morning.

The fifth-round talks will lay the groundwork for carrying out the first joint statement among the parties, he said, adding that in the coming three days, all parties will exchange views and hold consultations in this regard.

He admitted that differences exist among the parties, but all sides will find out methods to narrow the differences.

The South Korean delegation will hold bilateral consultations with other delegations respectively on Wednesday afternoon, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)