On the morning of April 25th, 2003, the Beijing
talks between China, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) and the United States on the DPRK nuclear issue
concluded at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Chinas
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Vice Foreign Minister Wang
Yi met and talked cordially with heads of the delegations.
Li Zhaoxing said that the Beijing talks signifies a good
beginning and have received attention and welcome from the
international community. He expressed the hope that the
parties will continue to exert their efforts for a peaceful
settlement of the issue. Both the DPRK and the U.S. sides
voiced their endorsement with Li, saying that during the
talks, the parties have stated their stances, fully
exchanged their views and thus enhanced mutual
understanding.
The heads of the delegations
clasped their hands together, signaling the conclusion of
the talks. The parties agreed that they would continue to
maintain contact on further talks through diplomatic
channels.
Chinas Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing also met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
James Kelly, DPRKs head of delegation Li Gun
respectively before the talks were
concluded.
Li Zhaoxing said that the
DPRKs nuclear issue was very complicated and
sensitive, but human effort should be a decisive factor. The
top priority at present is to proceed from the overall
situation of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula and realizing denuclearization of the peninsula
and insist on resolving the issue through peaceful talks.
This is the sole choice that is beneficial to all
parties.
Li Zhaoxing said, in discussion of
major issues, it is not strange to have differences. The
crux of the matter is to pay attention to substantial
content of the discussion rather than being confined to the
form. The two parties should heed the wordings and
statements, and more importantly, attach importance to the
deeds of each other. The ultimate goal is to serve the
longterm interest of the people of the relevant
countries.
Both the DPRK and the US
sides gave a high appraisal of China for its proposal for
holding the Beijing talks and expressed their thanks to
China for its considerate arrangements for the talks.
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