6-party talks open, host China urges flexibility
By Hu Xiao and Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-26 06:08

Reports from Tokyo said the US is ready to set up a liaison office - the lowest level of diplomatic representation - in Pyongyang if the DPRK abandons its nuclear programme. But Hill would not confirm the news.

Delegates of the six countries involved in the nuclear disarmament talks met last night for a dinner hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Li said he hoped all parties concerned were aware of the importance of their mission and the need for joint efforts to achieve substantive results.

He said efforts should be made to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue and peaceful means, to usher in a new era of reconciliation and co-operation in northeast Asia.

The dinner was one of the efforts amid a flurry of diplomacy to prepare for the restart of multilateral negotiations today.

Delegates have already engaged in bilateral meetings since arriving in Beijing.

Republic of Korea (ROK) chief negotiator Song Min-soon has met with Hill and his Japanese counterpart Kenichiro Sasae. He met the DPRK delegation on Sunday.

Song said his meeting with Hill focused on how to achieve their common goal - denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The ROK side explained the outcome of Sunday's contact with the DPRK to Hill.

Other diplomatic contacts before the formal talks include the DPRK's meeting with Russia, and US meetings with China and Japan.