Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on Wednesday called on all sides involved in the six-party talks to seize opportunities, meet challenges and work together with the utmost of political courage to create a better future for Northeast Asia. 

Wu, head of the Chinese delegation, made the remarks at this morning's first plenary session of the fourth round of six-party talks held at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

After the plenary meeting, he told reporters that negotiators from all six nations stated their positions and advanced opinions on how to resolve the issues involved, reiterating their commitment to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to dialogue.

"They agreed to continue in-depth discussions on the basis of the results of the previous three rounds of talks, give earnest consideration to the concerns and stances of other parties, and work together for positive progress in the ongoing talks," Wu said.

Negotiators from China, the US, Japan, Russia, North and South Korea began the fourth round of six-party talks yesterday with a series of one-to-one meetings.

The previous three rounds of six-party talks were held from 2003, but no substantial progress was made. Their resumption after a 13-month impasse has rekindled hopes for a breakthrough.

"Compared with the last three rounds, the participants appear to be more anxious to find a solution," said Jin Linbo, a professor from the China Institute of International Studies.

"But we still need to wait and see whether such favorable signs will lead to progress in the new round of talks," said Jin Canrong, an international politics professor from Renmin University of China. 

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)