All sides of the six-party talks hold an "open and flexible attitude" towards the duration of the talks, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing Tuesday.  

Zhang said as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula was very complicated a solution should be sought by dialogue or through certain mechanism.

China hoped all sides could reach consensus on certain issues, but "that does not mean consensus can be reached on all concrete issues", she said.

The consensus already reached by all sides was that peaceful means were conducive to resolving the issue, she said.

Zhang urged all sides "to fully show their sincerity and flexibility."

Asked about the trilateral talks held by the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) before the six-party talks, Zhang said the consultations demonstrated that all sides had made serious preparations for the talks and hoped they would lead to positive progress.

Delegations from the United States, the ROK and Japan held a two-day meeting in Seoul for final policy coordination before the six-party talks.

China is ready to work with the other five parties to push forward the second round of talks, Zhang said.

The six-party talks, which involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan, are scheduled to begin at 9 am on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2004)