Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, head of Chinese delegation for the third round of the six-party talks, said in Beijing Friday that the chance for peace has appeared during the ongoing six-party talks.

A source with Chinese Foreign Ministry said heads of the delegations to the talks held consultations Friday on key issues, particularly how to launch the nuclear weapon freezing process, so as to make the first step to realize the goal of denuclearization.

Wang said the consultations of the delegation heads were candid and useful and they agreed to start the nuclear freezing and take corresponding measures as the first phase of nuclear abandonment as soon as possible, calling it an important political consensus they had reached so far.

He said all parties agreed to carry on further discussions although there were still differences on some specific issues, including the implementation plan.

The chance for peace had appeared, said Wang, adding that it was most important for all parties to fully demonstrate their political will with a flexible and pragmatic attitude.

They would overcome the difficulties and blaze a trail for solution to the nuclear issue, Wang said.

The deputy heads continued the consultations on some specific issues and existing differences afterwards.

Other delegates of the six parties had also contacted each other during the third day of six-party talks, the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2004)