(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-21 19:18

BEIJING - Officials from China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday met in Beijing to discuss economic and energy assistance within the framework of six-party talks.

China's Ambassador for Korean Peninsula Issues Chen Naiqing is heading the Chinese delegation, which also includes officials from the foreign ministry and commercial ministry, said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

"The six-party talks and the Korean Peninsula denuclearization process have achieved remarkable progress, which is attributed by all to the great efforts by relevant parties including China," Liu said.

Despite some current difficulties, all parties have maintained consultation and communication, Liu said.

"China is ready to make joint efforts to push forward the six-party talks so as to realize the agreements completely and in a balanced fashion," Liu said.

The six-party talks held in Beijing last February reached a nuclear deal, where the DPRK agreed to disable its nuclear reactor and declare all nuclear programs and facilities by the end of last year to pave the way for dismantlement. However, the DPRK missed the deadline despite reported progress in its declaration.

Top US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill visited Beijing at the beginning of the week, during which he had "a good substantial discussion" with his DPRK counterpart Kim Kye Gwan on details about the DPRK's full declaration of its nuclear programs.