On the eve of the fourth round of six-party nuclear issue talks in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that he was hopeful that progress would be made, and the Korean peninsula nuclear issue resolved. Li was speaking at a banquet to welcome the six-party delegations to the fourth round of the talks scheduled to open on Tuesday morning.

Li said: "We have experienced twists and turns and accumulated some wisdom" over the past 12 months.

"There are two most cherishable things on earth, one is the people's interest and the other the world peace," Li stressed.

Li also said: "The six-party talks are aimed at safeguarding the interest of the people of the six nations concerned and the world at large, to maintain world peace and stability."

"This is not only the call of the times, but also the common aspiration of the international community," Li added.

Li hoped all parties concerned to be well aware of the important and honorable mission they were shouldering and to make joint efforts to achieve positive results.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2005)