China hopes that the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula will be continued as a mechanism that serves the interests of all parties concerned, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Tuesday.  

She said such a mechanism is the most realistic way to push for resolutions of relevant issues.

Zhang told a routine press conference Tuesday afternoon that China hopes to see a smooth progress of the second round of the six-party talks due to open in Beijing Wednesday.

China hopes that the talks will bear fruits and continue to be held in the future. The current talks will be a new starting point for peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, Zhang said, adding that China wishes that the talks will be maintained and continued.

Delegations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States have already arrived in Beijing to attend the talks, which also include China.

Zhang said the relevant parties have all made earnest and active preparations for the talks. She said the Chinese delegation has already started consultations with the other parties since Monday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held separate consultations with representatives from Russia, the United States and DPRK.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)