The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) highly values a great deal of work China had done for the Beijing six-party talks, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Thursday.

In response to a question at a regular press conference, Kong said that holding the six-party talks was the DPRK's idea and it believed there were positive results from the talks and hopes to peacefully solve related issues by dialogue.

Kong said the talks show the relevant sides have differences, some of which are very serious, as well as consensus.

But because of the talks, the goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula has been set and the dialogue process to peacefully resolve the issue has been started, said Kong.

He said China hopes and believes that as long as the process can be continued, the related parties, especially the DPRK and the United States, will understand each other better, reduce mistrust and gain more consensus.

Kong said during the talks the DPRK has made it clear that to have nuclear weapons is not its goal, but rather its goal is to realize a nuclear-free peninsula. China supports its position and believes that its security concerns should be resolved properly.

To guarantee a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintain the peace and stability of the peninsula conforms to the interests of all sides, said the spokesman.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2003)