Envoys to the six-party talks began to arrive in Beijing
yesterday after a five-week recess in a bid to negotiate a peaceful
solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
Alexander Alexeyev, head of the Russian delegation, arrived
first, ahead of those from North and South Korea, the US and Japan,
who are expected today.
Alexeyev said at the capital's airport that Russia wishes the
talks to be a success, and that the Russian side hoped all parties
can make joint efforts for the adoption of a common document.
A flurry of diplomatic activities took place during the break in
a bid to iron out differences.
North Korea and the US maintained contact via diplomatic
channels such as the UN.
Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei visited Japan and North Korea at
the end of August and exchanged views with leaders on the
resumption of the talks.
South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon
also visited China and the US, holding talks with Foreign Minister
Li
Zhaoxing and US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice.
In the first phase of the talks, North Korea insisted that it be
allowed to carry out peaceful nuclear activities. The US, however,
urged Pyongyang to abandon all its nuclear programs, including
civilian ones.
The current round of talks was launched on July 26 after a
13-month standoff, but the record 13-day talks reached a stalemate
as parties failed to agree a common document.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)
