Chinese and US negotiators have agreed to strive for an early resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and to make concerted efforts for progress, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday at a regular news briefing.

 

Jiang said Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met on Monday evening with US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, and exchanged in-depth views on issues related to the six-party talks.

 

The two sides agreed to work together for the resumption and further progress of the talks, she said, adding that the exact date of resumption was under discussion.

 

"I believe we will have the six-party talks probably by the middle of December, but what is important for us is that they (will) be well planned," Hill said at the airport after he wound up his one-day visit to Beijing.

 

Jiang also denied reports that Beijing had unfrozen North Korea's accounts in Macao-based Banco Delta Asia. The accounts were frozen after Washington accused Pyongyang of money laundering and counterfeiting.

 

The financial sanctions were imposed by Macao, not Beijing, Jiang said, adding that "we support the Macao government in handling this according to the law." Macao's monetary authority yesterday further denied reports of lifting curbs on the accounts.

 

Jiang reiterated China's position that the bank dispute should not impede the resumption of the six-party talks. "We hope all sides will be able to proceed in the overall interest of the six-party talks, and seek an appropriate resolution as soon as possible."

 

On the possibility of North Korean chief negotiator Kim Kye-gwan visiting China and his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei visiting Pyongyang, Jiang called it speculation.

 

The six-party talks involving China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea have been stalled since last November as North Korea refused to return to the talks due to US-imposed sanctions.

 

North Korea said on November 1 that it was willing to return to the nuclear talks, but did not offer a specific date.

 

Commenting on Sino-Indian economic cooperation, Jiang said China hopes joint efforts can be made to clear trade and investment barriers between the two nations.

 

China and India should continuously enhance their levels of economic and trade cooperation, and provide convenient and favorable environments for investment and business in India for Chinese enterprises for the benefit of both sides, Jiang said.

 

Sino-Indian economic and trade cooperation has been conducted on an equal footing and China hopes the momentum of development will be maintained, she said.

 

China hopes relevant departments from both sides can take a strategic view of the overall long-term friendship and thus contribute to bilateral cooperation, she added.

 

China-India trade volume is growing by 20 to 30 percent annually. It reached US$18.7 billion in 2005,up 37.5 percent over 2004.

 

While giving details on Mongolian Prime Minister Miegombyn Enkhbold's visit from November 22 to 27, Jiang said he will meet Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Wu Bangguo, and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Jia Qinglin, respectively. He will also hold talks with Premier Wen Jiabao.

 

Besides Beijing, Enkhbold will visit Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.

 

China and Mongolia established a mutual trust partnership in 2003 when President Hu Jintao visited the country.

 

Jiang said overall bilateral relations were sound, with frequent high-level exchanges, expanding economic and trade cooperation and increasing understanding.

 

Trade between China and Mongolia hit US$1.13 billion in the first nine months of this year, up 88.8 percent from the same period last year; it reached US$860 million in 2005, up 24 percent from 2004, Jiang said.

 

In another development, Jiang said China has noted the situation in Mexico, and hopes stability will be maintained there.

 

Felipe Calderon of the ruling National Action Party won the July 2 presidential election and will take office on December 1.

 

Defeated presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the left-wing For the Good of All Coalition, was sworn in as Mexico's "legitimate president" on Monday, in a move aimed at keeping Calderon from governing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2006)