China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan agreed Monday to enhance co-ordination over a new round of nuclear talks aimed at solving the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue.

The agreement was reached during meetings held between Fu Ying, head of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general of Asian and Oceanian affairs at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and Chung Sang-ki, director-general of the Asia-Pacific Affairs Bureau of the ROK Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs.

The three diplomats also held a joint meeting last Sunday over trilateral co-operation.

The three countries are willing to convene the second round of six-party nuclear talks as soon as possible, according to a press release from the Chinese delegation to the talks.

In the press release, the Chinese delegation stressed that the second round of six-party nuclear talks should be held on the basis of mutual respect and fair co-ordination with ROK and Japanese counterparts.

China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, the ROK and Japan held the first round of nuclear talks in August in Beijing.

Pyongyang said last week it is willing to attend the new round of such talks early in the next year.

The three countries also agreed to set up a trilateral commission under the direction of foreign ministries of the three countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)