Japan yesterday spoke highly of China's efforts for hosting the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

A Japanese official, who declined to disclose his name, said at a news briefing that China plays double roles of being a host and participant country at every round of the talks, which is "not easy."

Japan highly appreciates China's tremendous role in realizing this round of talks, the official said, expressing the hope that all the concerned parties, including Japan, would work closely with China to promote the talks to make concrete results.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)