"The nuclear question of the Korean Peninsula has a complicated background and requires a process and unremitting efforts from various parties to resolve it," Liu told a regular briefing. "We hope that parties concerned will continue to show sincerity and play constructive roles."

He added that China remains willing to work with the international community to peacefully resolve the issue.

China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States started talks in West Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest House on Wednesday. The three delegations were headed respectively by Fu Ying, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs under the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Li Gun, deputy director of US affairs at the DPRK Foreign Ministry and James Kelly, US assistant secretary of state for Asia and Pacific affairs.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the opening session and welcomed the participation of the DPRK and the US, according to Liu.

Declining to give any details of the talks, Liu told the press that the parties have fully expounded their positions on the nuclear question and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and expressed their concerns.

This will enhance mutual understanding as well as seeking ways for resolving the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogues, Liu said.

A statement carried on the DPRK's official KCNA news agency Thursday said the key to the talks would be Washington's willingness to change what Pyongyang sees as a hostile policy towards it.

The KCNA report said the United States should renounce its "hostile" intent before there could be discussions about dismantling the DPRK's suspected nuclear weapons program and verification.

The talks in Beijing, the first of its kind after tension over the DPRK nuclear issue escalated last October, have attracted wide attention in the region.

Liu Thursday said that China appreciates the stance of the neighboring countries to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and welcomes input from countries concerned about the matter for constructive roles.

However, he added that related issues should be dealt with by countries concerned.

(China Daily April 25, 2003)