China expects six-party foreign minister meeting to promote denuclearization

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-24 22:24

BEIJING - China said on Thursday the informal meeting of foreign ministers of the six parties on the Korean nuclear issue was of great importance and hoped it to promote the denuclearization process.

"It is first time for foreign ministers of the six-party talks to sit together and discuss the talks process, denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the peace and stability in northeast Asia. The meeting is of historic meaning," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Pak Ui Chun, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Yu Myung-hwan, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and Japanese Foreign Minister Komura Masahiko met in Singapore on Wednesday on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting. The foreign ministers reached some new consensus on promoting the talks process.

All relevant sides agreed to promote the goal of the six-party talks in a comprehensive, balanced and verifiable way. They pledged to implement their respective commitment so as to push forward the six-party talks process, Liu said.

He said all sides hoped to hold another foreign ministers meeting in Beijing when all factors were prepared, but the schedule still needed discussion through diplomatic channels.

Liu added China, as chair of the six-party talks, would consult with other sides on the issue and contribute to promoting the talks process.