The second phase of the sixth round of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue opened in Beijing on Thursday to decide the action plan in the next stage, a Chinese envoy said.

 

"We have made positive and effective preparations for this session," said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, head of the Chinese delegation for the six-party talks.

 

A meeting of delegation heads had been held to review the implementation of initial actions, and they had effective communication and coordination on the action plan in the next stage, Wu said.

 

"In accordance with the consensus of the delegation heads meeting, five working groups have conducted meetings in succession and discussed action plans in their respective fields," Wu said.

 

All parties had maintained close consultation on the issues of common concern, he said.

 

"With joint efforts of all parties, the six-party talks are developing along the right track," Wu said.

 

He expected all parties to observe the principle of mutual benefit, seize the main theme of the session, overcome existing difficulties and obstacles, and push the talks smoothly to a new stage.

 

The negotiators also reviewed the progress reports presented by the five working groups on the topics of denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula, economic and energy cooperation, the peace and security mechanism in northeast Asia, normalization of US and Japan relations with North Korea, Chinese delegation spokesman Qin Gang told reporters at a news briefing.

 

The six parties agreed to, based on the principle of "action for action," implement the 9.19 Joint Statement on the denuclearization process and a joint document issued at the six-party talks on February 13 in a "comprehensive," "balanced" and "phase by phase" manner.

 

They agreed to provide North Korea with 450,000 tons of heavy fuel oil and energy equipment equal to 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil, Qin said.

 

Qin said all parties voiced commitments to reinforcing mutual trust and safeguarding the peace and security mechanism in northeast Asia.

 

The US and North Korea reaffirmed their promises made in the two joint documents on the normalization of relations and Japan also reiterated its willingness to normalize relations with North Korea.

 

North Korean top envoy Kim Kye-gwan said North Korea would continue efforts to improve its relations with the US and Japan, Qin added.

 

Negotiators signed the initial actions during the fifth round of the six-party talks on February 13.

 

The first phase of the sixth round of talks was held in March this year in Beijing, which was concluded with a chairman's statement.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2007)