The main task of the fifth-round six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, which began in Beijing Wednesday morning, is "to outline details, ways and procedures for the implementation of the joint statement adopted in September," said the Chinese chief negotiator.

 

The task should be fulfilled in line with the principle of "commitment to commitment and action to action," said Wu Dawei, also vice foreign minister, at the opening session of the talks.

 

In the joint statement, adopted at the fourth round of talks that ended in September, North Korea agreed to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in exchange for energy aid and security guarantees.

 

"I hope the parties concerned could continue to participate in consultations in an earnest, responsible, flexible and pragmatic attitude so as to seek solutions acceptable to all parties as early as possible," said Wu.

 

He said the publication of the joint statement demonstrated the political will and commitment of all parties, and signaled the talks entered a new stage.

 

He suggested the fifth round be carried out in phases: the delegation heads of the six nations first table a general scenario and a working group or expert panel works out detailed rules and submit them to the delegation heads for consultations.

 

At the plenary meeting after the opening ceremony, all delegation heads expressed their stances and opinions on how to implement the joint statement, according to sources with the Chinese delegation.

 

They agreed that with the talks entering a substantial phase of "action to action," all the parties concerned face a more complicated and more arduous task and thus should take a serious attitude to earnestly fulfill the commitments they made in the joint statement.

 

However, the US side claimed North Korea should first abandon its nuclear program and create a nuclear-free Korea Peninsula, then other issues could be discussed.

 

"When North Korea is back to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons with the IAEA safeguards, at an appropriate time we'll have a discussion about the subject of the provision of light water reactor," US chief negotiator Christopher Hill told reporters Wednesday morning.

 

On the possible North Korea-US bilateral meetings during the current talks, Hill said many two-way discussions would be held and it is likely for them to meet with the North Korean counterparts.

 

"I look forward to hearing from the Chinese delegation on how they assess the negotiations," Hill added.

 

South Korea's chief delegate Song Min-soon appealed all parties to have patience as the path is still "open" for all sides to implement the joint statement through consultations.

 

The fifth-round talks will lay the groundwork for the parties concerned to carry out the first joint statement, he said, adding that in the coming three days, all the parties will exchange views and consult with each other on this issue.

 

Song admitted that differences exist among the parties, but all sides will find out ways to narrow the differences.

 

Kenichiro Sasae, Japan's chief negotiator, also called on all parties to voice their respective stances on how to implement the joint statement reached in September.

 

Japan will "actively voice its opinions in detail," Sasae told reporters when leaving the hotel Wednesday morning.

 

He hoped North Korea could implement the September landmark agreement in real earnest.

 

The six-party talks involve China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea.

 

China has hosted four rounds of six-party talks since August 2003.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)