It might be an appropriate choice to set up working groups or expert teams so as to implement the joint statement adopted in the last round of six-party talks, said spokesman for the Chinese delegation Qin Gang Wednesday.

Qin made the remarks at a press briefing held Wednesday evening. He said the methods to form and the composition of such teams are up to consultations among the six parties.

The fifth-round six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue began Wednesday morning at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Qin said the six delegation heads voiced their respective opinions and stances on how to implement the joint statement on Wednesday's plenary session. The atmosphere of the talks is "practical" and "forward-looking," he noted.

The new round of talks has entered the substantial stage of "action to action," Qin said, adding the situation is even more complicated.

The talks provides a platform for various parties to seek methods to fulfill the joint statement, he said. The six parties have presented their opinions and are also studying each other's suggestion.

Differences still exist in implementing the joint statement, Qin said, expressing his hope that various parties could continue to take a "practical" and "flexible" manner in a bid to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties concerned.

According to him, various parties have conducted 16 bilateral consultations up to now, with nine of them conducted between China and the other five parties.

China will hold bilateral consultations with the US and North Korea later Wednesday evening, he said.

Qin said the parties held that to hold this round of talks in phases is a good choice. "But the specific duration of the talks will be decided by various parties through the progress of the talks."

He said it is an "important sign" of progress that the parties held this round of talks as scheduled.

The six-party talks is a process full of challenges and difficulties, Qin said. He hopes all parties could expand common ground and narrow their differences through exchanges and promote progress of the talks.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)