On February 4th, Dai Bingguo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, was interviewed by the Chinese press on the upcoming second round of the six-party talks.

Q: Since the date of the talks has been set, great attention has been paid from home and abroad to its preparations. Can you give a brief introduction to the preparations being made?

A: The first round of the six-party talks held last August was a significant step towards the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and thus was well received by the international community. Over the past several months, all parties have stuck to the track of settling the issue peacefully through dialogue and made relentless efforts for the early kick-off of the second round talks. As a result, great progress has been made in its preparations. All the parties have agreed to start the second round talks on February 25th.

The consultations that China has made with other parties have shown:

First, all the parties attach great importance to the second round talks and are willing to make due efforts for its success.

Secondly, all the parties are open to topics of discussion during the talks, including the denuclearization of the peninsula and how to address the security concerns of related countries.

Thirdly, the parties involved have started to seriously consider possible issues that would be discussed in the next round of talks and have put up their proposals.

Fourthly, all the parties have realized the complexity of the Peninsula nuclear issue, whose resolution requires prolonged efforts and continuation and enhancement of the peace talks.

As the date of the second round talks has been set, China sincerely hopes and believes that all parties involved will continue to make strenuous efforts in a responsible manner to create a more favorable environment so that the talks can be convened smoothfully as scheduled.

Q: What efforts have China and other parties made in advancing the six-party talks?

A: As the host of the six-party talks, after the conclusion of the first round talks, China has been committed to promoting the talks through good offices to initiate the second round talks so as to maintain the peace-talk process. China has held many consultations with North Korea, the U.S. and other parties at different levels, which served the interests of all parties. It has also made considerable preparations for the talks. Other parties are also in frequent contact with each other to coordinate their positions. Therefore it can be said that all parties have made their contributions to the re-opening of the six party talks.

In addition, the overwhelming majority of the international community is also pinning hopes on the continuation of the peace talks and the EU, ASEAN and some other countries also made their due efforts in this regard.

Q: What expectations does China have on the second round talks?

A: To put it simply, China would like to see the successful convening and fruitful results of the talks and hopes that the talks will be continued in the future, which I am sure are also hoped by the other five parties and even the international community.

To put it more specifically, in the first place, we would like to see all the parties involved show their sincerity in solving the problems. Second, we hope the parties can calm down and discuss related issues in a down-to-earth and constructive manner by giving consideration to concerns of other parties while asserting their own opinions. Thirdly, it is our sincere hope that this round of talks can see new consensuses reached and new arrangements made through in-depth discussions.

Q: Will the parties involved issue a joint document after the talks are concluded?

A: It can be said that all the parties hope to record the consensus that comes out of the talks through a joint document. We have discussed the issue and basically reached a consensus. What the document will be depends on the progress of the talks as well as the results of the consultations. In terms of China's wish, we want a good joint document.

Q: What stance will China continue to uphold on the nuclear issue of the peninsula? What are the prospects foreseen by China for the peace-talk process and the peaceful resolution of the issue?

A: China has always upheld the principles of denuclearizing the peninsula, maintaining its peace and stability, resolving related issues peacefully through dialogue and giving consideration to concerns of all the parties involved. China will continue to adhere to this stance.

Peace talks are the fundamental way underlying the solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the best choice for the parties, which will bring largest benefits to all the parties and to peace, stability and development of the region as well as Asia and the whole world.

Presently the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue has been basically brought on the track of peaceful resolution through dialogue. So long as the parties involved engage in consultations in a constructive and equal manner with goodwill and patience, they are surely able to gradually build trust, narrow differences and expand consensus, thus blazing a trail that will lead to the ultimate solution to the issue.

Of course, due to the complicatedness of the issue, it is unrealistic for us to expect a solution through one or two rounds of talks. We hope that the parties involved and the international community can have a reasonable and realistic expectation about the peace-talk process and that all parties can stick to the track of peace talks with patience when faced with problems whatsoever. We believe that a peaceful resolution through dialogue is in no way beyond reach with the continuation of the peace talks and the unremitting efforts made by the parties involved.