The Beijing six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue entered their second day at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Thursday, and the participants held more bilateral and multilateral consultations on the sidelines of the collective talks.

Sources with the Chinese delegation said that the six parties on Thursday further clarified their stances and proposals expounded on Wednesday, and exchanged views in a frank atmosphere.

The talks, among China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, began here Wednesday, and are expected to wrap up Friday.

The parties reiterated that de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the common goal of all sides, and the nuclear issue should be solved peacefully through diplomatic means, the Chinese sources said.

In addition, they stressed that relevant concerns related to the nuclear issue should also be handled seriously, the Chinese sources said.

Jeong Woo-jin, an official with the ROK Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, said at a short briefing that the six parties held bilateral or trilateral talks in the afternoon.

Shin Bong-Kil, spokesman for the ROK Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said that the ROK and the DPRK have held bilateral contacts on the sidelines of the six-party talks.

According to a report, the United States, ROK and Japan held trilateral consultations at the US embassy here Thursday morning, just before the collective talks.

A press official with the Japanese delegation also proved that Kim Yong Il, head of the delegation of DPRK, and the Japanese head of delegation Mitoji Yabunaka had two contacts, respectively on Thursday morning and afternoon, totaling 40 minutes, exchanging views on the DPRK's nuclear weapon development and abduction of Japanese.

The Russian delegation head and Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov was quoted as saying Thursday that the DPRK delegation showed interest in the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and had no desire to possess nuclear weapons.

The Russian delegation Thursday also held separate meetings with the United States and the DPRK, and its meeting with the DPRK side lasted one and a half hours. Sources quoted Losiukov as saying that all parties were holding consultations on documents concerning the results of the six-party talks.

Although all the parties and relevant embassies refused to reveal either details or the schedule, it can be foreseen that the talks will move on to their third day, which is also the last day of the schedule.

Qi Baoliang, an expert on Korean issues at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said Thursday all parties are playing active roles in holding multilateral and bilateral contacts and consultations, showing sincere and down-to-earth attitudes.

The talks this time are "a good start" and the first step to achieving consensus by all parties, said Shen Jiru, a noted researcher and chief of the Division of International Strategies of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2003)