Senior diplomats from China and?South Korea met in Beijing Friday, striving to promote the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue toward reaching agreement.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting South Korean?Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon that the fourth round of six-party talks has "entered a new stage of substantial negotiation" and made "positive progress."

The recession of the talks, from last weekend to the last week of this month, is set for better preparation for achieving more fruits, said Tang, who is also former Chinese Foreign Minister.

Tang said he hopes all sides will maintain contact and coordination, study hard on how to narrow difference and facilitate the talks for more progress.

Ban told Tang that South Korea will keep cooperation with China in a bid to consolidate the achieved results and contribute to the next stage of talks.

Ban also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Friday, according to diplomatic sources, who declined to give more details.

Ban told a press briefing after the talks with Li that South Korea and China both regarded the first stage of the talks has made great progress.

However, all concerned sides still need to discuss the right?of North Korea to peaceful use of nuclear energy, according to Ban.

The six-party talks involve China, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan.
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(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2005)