The second round of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue will hopefully be held in December, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing Tuesday.  

During a regular press conference, Liu Jianchao said that if all sides work together, and preparation goes well and differences reduce, the second round of talks is very likely to be held before the end of this year.

China hopes it can be held "as early as possible", he said.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed this issue with the US side last Thursday and Friday. Dai Bingguo, another Chinese vice foreign minister, met with related officials of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Monday and will visit Japan Wednesday.

Liu said China and the United States have reached consensus on peacefully resolving the Korean nuclear issue and pushing six-party talks. They also exchanged views on preparation for the second round of talks. The two sides agreed to maintain contact and hoped all sides would contribute to an early opening of the talks.

China and the ROK, Liu said, reiterated that peacefully resolving the Korean nuclear issue is their common goal and they are willing to push the progress forward.

The six parties, which are the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China, the United States, Russia, the ROK and Japan, held the first round talks in Beijing last August.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2003)