China maintains that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free
and that the security concerns of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK) should also be addressed, Chinese Vice-Foreign
Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday on the eve of the opening of the
Beijing six-party talks on the peninsula.
"Only through dialogue and talks can the peace and stability of
the peninsula be safeguarded,'' Wang told the Chinese media
yesterday.
The three-day talks are due to start today at the Diaoyutai
State Guesthouse, involving China, the DPRK, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, Russia and the United States.
Wang, also head of the Chinese delegation, separately met heads
of the other five delegations on Monday and yesterday. All parties
expressed their gratitude for China's efforts in initiating and
proceeding with the talks.
He said yesterday that maintaining peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula has always been China's basic stance in this area,
with regard to the nuclear issue.
Wang noted that, when tension erupted again last October over
the nuclear issue on the peninsula, then Chinese President Jiang
Zemin clearly stated China's stance that the issue should be
resolved peacefully when Jiang met George W. Bush at the US
president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
This stance represents China's consistent position, Wang
said.
"It serves the fundamental interests of all parties and has been
welcomed by the international community and has also become the
common consensus for resolving the issue at present,'' he said.
The root of the nuclear issue derives from the remaining shadow
of the Cold War over the Korean Peninsula.
"The main views and stances between the DPRK and the United
States came into confrontation, which led to the escalation of the
situation,'' he said. The countries surrounding the peninsula,
including China, have been concerned about the situation, Wang
added.
"We oppose sanctions or putting on pressure and we oppose war
even more so,'' he stressed.
Chinese leaders and government have so far made unremitting
efforts to promote peace talks, he said.
Wang stressed that Pyongyang has made "important and resolute''
decisions with regard to the realization of the six-party talks.
Washington and the other parties involved have also tabled
important proposals for the talks, he added.
China has carried out several rounds of diplomatic mediation
since March, Wang said.
Tripartite talks involving Beijing, Pyongyang and Washington
were held in April, marking the first step towards a peaceful
solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue.
Chinese envoys shuttled between the different countries involved
to push the peace talks process forward.
"We pay great heed to listening to the opinions of all sides, in
particular the DPRK and the United States, and try to seek common
points and draw out what is rational from all sides,'' he said.
"The format of the talks is important but the content is more
important,'' he said. The talks are "dialogue on an equal footing
with substantial content'' and a "channel'' to find a solution to
the problems.
Beijing supports and welcomes all efforts that are conducive to
promoting dialogue and pushing forward peace talks, he said.
"China, as the host of the talks, hopes all the parties will
take into consideration the overall situation for the safeguarding
of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, show sincerity to
solve the issue, adopt a calm and patient attitude, respect each
other, conduct consultations on an equal footing, seek common
ground and reduce disputes so as to ensure the talks continue and
yield peace,'' Wang said.
"Of course, the nuclear issue is very complicated and acute, and
it is impossible to solve all problems through one or two rounds of
talks, and some difficulties may arise during negotiations,'' he
added.
Wang said that China would provide every facility to help
promote the six-party talks.
"The coming-together of the six parties has itself given out a
positive signal,'' Wang said. It shows the willingness of all the
parties to settle disputes through peaceful means and demonstrates
a spirit of reconciliation and cooperation, he said.
(China Daily August 27, 2003)
