China suggested Tuesday that the United Nations Security Council take a cautious attitude toward getting involved in the Korean nuclear issue.

"Considering that the six-party talks in Beijing achieved some progress and the parties concerned reached certain consensus, China thinks that the UN Security Council should take a discreet attitude toward getting involved at the current time," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a regular press conference.

When asked whether China felt disappointed with the remarks made by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently on the six-party talks, Kong said "China has no reason whatsoever to feel disappointed".

As an Asian nation, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and also a large developing country, China hopes to make its due contribution to peace in Asia as well as in the world at large, Kong said.

He noted that China has been making unremitting efforts to resolve the Korean nuclear issue ever since it emerged.

"China's efforts have won the full affirmation of the international community and the other five parties attending the six-nation talks in Beijing," he said.

Kong appealed to all parties to abide by the consensus reached at the three-day talks and refrain from taking any measures that might complicate or inflame the issue more.

He also called for the parties to maintain communication and close contact and study the other parties' stances very carefully so as to make preparations for the next round of talks.

Regarding the timing of the second round of talks, Kong said that it could not be settled now. As for whether the next talks would be held in Beijing, he said China's attitude toward that was "flexible and open".

"As long as the suggestion is conducive to resolving the Korean nuclear issue peacefully, China will actively take it into consideration," he said.

All the six parties need to take some time to study the other sides' positions after the talks so as to make policies for the next step, Kong said.

He said that China hopes each party could proceed from the peace and stability in Asia and the world and stay on the track of solving the nuclear issue through dialogue and diplomatic channels to continue making efforts.

The significance of the Beijing six-party talks, Kong acknowledged, is that the parties concerned sat together, and held discussions on the Korean nuclear issue.

The talks could help increase mutual understanding and lay down a foundation for reducing disputes and broadening consensus in the future, he said.

"China is fully aware of the intricacies of the Korean nuclear issue and the twists and turns and difficulties in continuing the talks," Kong said.

"But we believe the six parties all have one consensus, which is the hope that the talks will continue, mutual understanding will be deepened, suspicion will be reduced, consensus will be broadened and a peaceful solution to the Korean nuclear issue could be reached eventually," the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2003)