Spokesman Qin Gang of the Chinese delegation to the third session of the fifth round of Six-Party Talks held a press conference in the Six-Party Talks press center on the evening of February 8, 2007.

Qin Gang:

Good evening. First of all, I'd like to extend once again welcome to the Chinese and foreign journalists here in Beijing covering the Six-Party Talks. The opening ceremony of the third session of the fifth round of Six-Party Talks was held this afternoon. You have watched the ceremony as well as the speech of chief Chinese negotiator and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei via TV broadcast, and here I will not talk about that again. The plenary session which was held following the opening ceremony in my view can be described as being frank and pragmatic. In their speeches the heads of the six delegations unanimously reiterated their will and determination of insisting on the Six-Party Talks, solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and realizing denuclearization of the Peninsula and agreed to move ahead the talks in an active and careful attitude, overcome difficulties and challenges, try to reach consensus on the actions in the initial stage of implementing the joint statement and push forward the process of the Six-Party Talks. This is my summary of this afternoon's meeting.

As for the bilateral meetings, up to now the Chinese delegation has contacted all the other five parties. Japan and Russia contacted each other yesterday, so did Korea and Japan today. The meeting of the heads of delegations was held this afternoon prior to the opening ceremony. This is what I have been informed of the meetings so far.

Now, the floor is open.

Q: after the heads of the six delegations made their speech respectively, does the Chinese side feel optimistic of the prospect of the talks?

A: I don't want to describe today's meeting as being optimistic or pessimistic because today is only a beginning and we will follow the talks in the next few days. But I feel that the common consensus among the six parties increased after today's meeting. All the parties reiterated their will and determination of realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining stability of the Peninsula and exchanged opinions and raised a number of constructive suggestions on how to implement the joint statement, especially on the initial steps. This will increase understanding and trust among the six parties and push forward the Six-Party Talks. Meanwhile, to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a complex process. We should be not only confident but also patient and take tangible actions to move ahead step by step. It is hoped that all the parties will cherish this opportunity of resuming the talks to make a good beginning for the initial stage.

Q: what role does the meeting held between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier in Berlin play to this session of the Six-Party Talks?

A: today all the parties concerned noted that the Berlin meeting between the US and the DPRK is conductive to launching this session of talks. The Berlin meeting is a part of the entire Six-Party Talks process and a bilateral contact during the adjournment of the Talks.

Q: will China prepare a new draft action plan following today's meeting?

A: it's too early to discuss whether or when to draft the document. After all today is the first day of the meeting. The parties are making contacts and communications to understand each other's views, opinions and suggestions.

Q: has the duration of this session of the talks been fixed? Is the energy assistance to the DPRK one of the topics of this session?

A: as far as the duration of this session is concerned, it is hoped that the parties can reach consensus on the actions and related mechanism in the initial stage and finish this round of talks at the earliest date possible. As we all know, the Spring Festival is approaching. It is the most important festival of the Chinese people as well as a major festival of the DPRK and Korea. We have worked throughout the year and hope to have a good rest and gather with our family members during the holiday, which therefore will be taken into full consideration by the heads of the six delegations during their talks. The duration of this session will be determined through discussion by all parties in line with the progress of the talks.

On the second question, all the parties have made related commitments in the Sept. 19 joint statement, including that the DPRK gives up nuclear program and related parties conduct economic and energy cooperation. Since the parties now discuss how to implement the joint statement, related issues will be involved.

Q: Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said at today's opening ceremony that "It is hoped this session will be a good beginning of implementing the joint statement". What's the first topic of this session? Which issue is hoped to be solved first?

A: if we review the Sept. 19 joint statement, we will find that it is a comprehensive document and contains rules and commitments on realizing denuclearization of the Peninsula, conducting economic and energy cooperation among related parties, normalizing relations between countries concerned and achieving lasting peace and stability of the Peninsula. We believe that all these should be implemented in an all-round and balanced manner.

Q: I notice that you have been drinking Coca Cola. Does this mean the Chinese side has made great efforts for the talks? Does the Chinese side expect a good beginning of this session of talks?

A: The Chinese side indeed has made arduous efforts to push forward the Six-Party Talks. I drink so much Coca Cola in order to answer as many your questions as possible. I hope that the talks will be nice and pleasant just like the meaning of the Chinese name of Coca Cola. However, as one cannot drink up a cup of Cola in one nip, the road to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will be twisty and long. There is an idiom in China that small steps make thousands of miles. What we should do now is to push forward the Six-Party Talks step by step. A good beginning will create more opportunities to achieve the result that all the parties are satisfied with.

Q: is the establishment of a working group one of the topics of this session of talks?

A: one of the topics of this session of the Six-Party Talks is to exchange opinions on the working mechanism in the initial stage of implementing the joint statement, and the establishment of a working group will be one of the questions to be discussed by the parties.

Q: does the US or the DPRK inform the Chinese side of the result of their consultations on financial issues?

A: the Chinese side is not informed of the US-DPRK consultations on financial issues. We hope that related parties can take into full consideration the concerns of other parties and the US can finish the investigation on Macao Banco Delta Asia as soon as possible and handle this issue appropriately.

Q: Would you introduce the agenda of tomorrow's meeting? The last session of the Six-Party Talks failed to make substantial results. Is China confident that this session of talks will achieve substantial outcome?

A: tomorrow's agenda maybe involves some bilateral contacts and the meeting of heads of delegations. I hope you will keep contact with our press center to check the agenda for each day.

As for the second question, that the Six-Party Talks can be launched and continue is itself an outcome. During last session all the parties concerned reiterated the goal of peacefully achieving denuclearization of the Peninsula through consultations and negotiations, which is of great importance to setting the future direction of the Six-Party Talks. During last meeting, all the six parties furthered understood, took back and carefully studied each other's position, opinions and suggestions. Now they come back to the negotiation table with new opinions, views and suggestions. Is this not a virtuous process? It can be said that without last session it will be impossible to hold this session today. It is with these sessions that the process of the Six-Party Talks moves forward constantly. We hope that during this session of talks the parties will reach more consensus and agreement on the actions and related mechanism in the initial stage of implementing the joint statement. It will not be bad even if the parties still have differences which cannot be solved immediately because this is also a step of the process. We can increase mutual understanding and trust and build consensus through further communications.

That's all for today's press conference. Wish you a pleasant experience of covering the talks!