Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a news conference Tuesday that China has close contacts with all countries concerned and preparations for a second round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear stalemate are in full swing. 

"There are two key issues -- one is to ensure a nuclear-free Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the other is to solve the security concerns of the DPRK," said Liu.

He said all parties involved still have differences on the two issues as well as other related questions.

The specific date for the second round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue is undecided, but all the parties are making preparations. "We're hoping for an early date for the second round of talks," said Liu.

(China Daily December 3, 2003)