China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan agreed Monday to
enhance co-ordination over a new round of nuclear talks aimed at
solving the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear
issue.
The agreement was reached during meetings held between Fu Ying,
head of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign
Ministry, Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general of Asian and Oceanian
affairs at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and Chung Sang-ki,
director-general of the Asia-Pacific Affairs Bureau of the ROK
Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs.
The three diplomats also held a joint meeting last Sunday over
trilateral co-operation.
The three countries are willing to convene the second round of
six-party nuclear talks as soon as possible, according to a press
release from the Chinese delegation to the talks.
In the press release, the Chinese delegation stressed that the
second round of six-party nuclear talks should be held on the basis
of mutual respect and fair co-ordination with ROK and Japanese
counterparts.
China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, the ROK and Japan
held the first round of nuclear talks in August in Beijing.
Pyongyang said last week it is willing to attend the new round
of such talks early in the next year.
The three countries also agreed to set up a trilateral
commission under the direction of foreign ministries of the three
countries.
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)