China hoped bilateral talks between?North Korea and Japan, scheduled in Beijing on Wednesday, would produce positive result so as to promote normalization of? North Korea-Japan ties, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks at a regular press conference in Beijing, saying China welcomed North Korea-Japan bilateral talks and hoped it would help push forward the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2008)