The second phase of the fourth-round six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is to resume on September 13 in Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced at yesterday's regular press conference.

 

The talks will be open-ended since all the parties concerned need to make full consultations on issues concerning how to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Qin Gang said.

 

"The ending date of the talks will be decided by all concerned parties according to the results of their consultations," he said.

 

The process of denuclearization is difficult and complicated, he said. "We cannot expect to solve all the problems in just several rounds of talks, but we are not pessimistic because of that."

 

As the negotiation is drawing near, Qin urged all the parties concerned to show flexibility, adopt a pragmatic attitude, and take the opportunity to find a solution acceptable to all.

 

"China would make unswerving efforts for the talks to achieve positive results," he said.

 

The fourth round of six-party talks started from July 26 and recessed on August 7 for resumption originally scheduled in the week beginning August 29.

 

In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks on Russia's trans-Siberian oil pipeline, Qin said enhancing the cooperation on energy resources between China and Russia conforms to the fundamental interests of both sides.

 

He said China and Russia are holding consultations on this issue agreed upon by the leaders of both countries.

 

In an earlier report, Putin has confirmed that his nation's trans-Siberian oil pipeline will first export oil to China, rather than Japan.

 

The construction of the pipeline is to begin later this year, with the first stage capable of carrying 30 million metric tons of crude oil annually from the Siberian city of Taishet to Skovorodino near the Chinese border.

 

From there, the pipeline is expected to take two-thirds of the oil south to Daqing, China's oil center, while the remaining 10 million metric tons would be shipped by rail to a new port to be built on the Pacific coast near Nakhodka. The project is expected to be completed around 2008.

 

In another development, Qin said the international community is still facing the challenge and threat of terrorism, and thus needs to strengthen cooperation.

 

Terrorist incidents have happened in succession in Turkey, the UK and Kenya, and China is also the victim of terrorism, he said.

 

Qin stressed that China's stance on anti-terrorism is persistent, opposing terrorism in all forms.

 

However, he noted, there should not be double standards in anti-terrorism. Anti-terrorism should benefit world peace and security and promote the progress and prosperity of the mankind.

 

He said anti-terrorism should comply with the UN Charter and basic norms of international laws, highlighting that China opposes connection of the issue with certain religions and nationalities.

 

"In order to eliminate terrorism, we should eradicate its source," he said.

 

Qin announced Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will head a delegation to attend the general debate of the 60th UN General Assembly session.

 

He said Li will speak to the general debate, explaining the Chinese government's stance on development, UN reform and the African issues.

 

Li will also participant in the bilateral and multilateral activities. They include the meetings with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, and foreign ministers of some countries including the European Troika, as well as the consultations with the Rio Group and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

 

Also according to the spokesperson, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit will visit China from September 18 to 24 at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com September 9, 2005)