China welcomes both Pyongyang's offer to freeze its nuclear
programs and Washington's response, saying that Beijing is ready to
hold a second round of six-party talks at any time.
"China welcomes the further willingness of the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to stop nuclear activities,"
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a regular
press conference in Beijing Thursday.
"China also appreciates US Secretary of State Colin Powell's
positive response in this regard," Kong said.
Pyongyang said on Tuesday it is willing to refrain from testing
and producing nuclear weapons and stop nuclear activities.
"The DPRK is set to refrain from test and production of nuclear
weapons and stop even operating nuclear power industries for a
peaceful purpose as first-phase measures on the package solution,"
the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a
commentary, saying it could not make concessions any bolder.
Powell responded by saying the chances of a second round of
talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are improving.
"This is an interesting step on their part, a positive step, and
we hope that it will allow us to move more rapidly toward six-party
framework talks," Powell said, referring to talks which involve the
DPRK, the United States, China, Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and
Japan.
ROK and Japan on Wednesday also welcomed DPRK's statement.
"I believe the gaps are narrowing and the parties have a better
understanding of each other's positions," Kong said.
He said progress has been made on a draft statement to be agreed
on at a second round of talks.
"The talks should carry on past achievements. These talks should
bear concrete results," he said.
"We believe that the preparations for the talks are making
progress. We hope to hold the talks as soon as possible. The
Chinese side is working on this behalf," Kong said.
His comments came as an unofficial US delegation kicked off a
five-day visit to the DPRK on Tuesday.
The spokesman noted that the parties still disagree on the
prospects and the discussion content of the second round talks.
He said that China and other countries do not have a clear idea
of DPRK's nuclear agenda and capability, expressing China's hope to
discuss the resolution through direct consultation.
"We have repeated our position on this issue, i.e., the Korean
Peninsula should be nuclear free and DPRK's security concerns
should be taken into account."
China has been trying to convene a new round of talks on the
nuclear standoff. A first round of discussions took place in
Beijing last August but ended without an exact date for second
round talks.
Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokesman said China is making
the utmost efforts with the international community to overcome
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),
a challenge to the whole human kind.
Kong said cooperation between China and the international
community, including international organizations and other
countries and regions, has made gradual progress.
China has built a comprehensive prevention and monitoring system
to fight SARS since it broke out last year, Kong said, and China is
confident of preventing another outbreak.
The World Health Organization has expressed the opinion that
China has established an effective, reactive and transparent
monitoring system to fight SARS, Kong said.?
Kong also announced Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun, minister of
external relations of Mongolia, will pay an official visit to China
on Jan. 14-20, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing.
??
During his visit, the Mongolian foreign minister will be invited
to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Secretariat of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, Kong said.
(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, January
9, 2004)