On the afternoon of February 26, 2004, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan met with heads of delegations to the second round of the six-party talks and other foreign diplomatic envoys at Diaoyutai State Guest Hotel.

Tang Jiaxuan commented that all the parties attached great importance to and made good preparations for the talks with the hope that this meeting will yield positive results. He also expressed his satisfaction with the good start of the talks.

Tang Jiaxuan said that peace and development have become the themes of today's world, with exchanges and cooperation between countries ever-increasingly intensifying and various regional cooperation burgeoning. However, the shadow of the Cold War still casts over the Korean Peninsula, and the nuclear issue presents even more severe challenges to peace and development in the region. Nevertheless, so long as we take the resolution of the nuclear issue as an opportunity of eliminating differences, expanding consensus and building trust, we may still be able to turn challenges into opportunities and bring about a win-win situation, thus creating a more peaceful and secure environment in the region.

Tang Jiaxuan noted that the Chinese government has always held that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear-free and reasonable security concerns of the DPRK be addressed at the same time so as to offer the DPRK a normal development environment and ultimately achieve the goal of lasting peace and development in Northeast Asia.

Tang Jiaxuan said that the second round of talks had entered a crucial stage with the beginning of discussions on such substantive issues as denuclearization, security guarantee and economic cooperation. He expressed hopes for the parties to show utmost flexibility and to actively explore feasible solutions in the spirit of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing.

Heads of delegations commented that the talks had been constructive and provided an unprecedented opportunity for the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue, pledging that the parties would continue to work for the ultimate settlement of the nuclear issue. The parties also offered thanks to China for the good preparations it had made and expressed appreciation for its active coordination and important role in the talks as the host.