China calls for early resumption of six-party talks
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-25 09:19

China on Tuesday urged participants in the six-party talks to show more goodwill so that the talks can be resumed at an early date.

"All parties should be dedicated to bridging differences through dialogue and dealing properly with postponement factors so that the six-way talks can restart soon," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a regular press briefing.

He said that, when the six parties concluded the last phase of talks, they agreed to hold the second phase of the fifth round of talks at an early date.

"But it is worrying that new problems and complicated factors have emerged during the follow-up process," he said.

He expressed his hope that the other five parties will be more cooperative and show more goodwill in order to create favorable conditions for the resumption of the talks.

When asked to comment on the reported meeting between Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing in early February, the spokesman said China supports the two countries' attempts to solve bilateral problems through one-on-one consultation.

The six-party talks, which aim to find a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan. So far, the six countries have held five rounds of talks in Beijing.

Sino-Japanese relations

Japan should take substantial actions to improve Sino-Japanese relations, Kong Quan said.

Kong told the regular press conference that China had taken note of the speech by the Japanese prime minister and foreign minister on attaching importance to Japan's relations with China.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed on Jan. 20 in his annual policy speech to develop the future-oriented relations with China. Describing China as a very important neighbor, Koizumisaid, "We will strengthen cooperation from a comprehensive standpoint to construct future-oriented relations based on trust."

Following Koizumi, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said in his speechthat strengthening relations with China is an unswerving fundamental policy of Japan.

When asked to comment, Kong Quan said the Japanese side should take concrete, substantial action to improve bilateral relations.

The Chinese government, based on the spirit of learning from history and looking into the future, would continue its efforts topromote friendly and cooperative relations between China and Japan,the spokesman said.

East Asia WW2 history

China, the Republic of Korea (ROK)and Japan should jointly study East Asia World War 2 history, Kong Quan said.

During his visit to Japan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick proposed that the United States, China and Japan carry out joint research on WW2 history, so as to narrow the difference between the parties.

When asked to comment on Zoellick's proposal, Kong said at a regular press conference that China, the ROK and Japan should jointly carry out the research.

"We are glad to see that Chinese, ROK and Japanese scholars have already made some helpful contributions in this field recently, Kong said, hoping that the three countries would try to find ways of further promoting cooperation on the research.