U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill spoke highly Tuesday of the role played by China as the host of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
China played an "excellent role" in planning and preparing the talks by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, South Korea, Russia, Japan and itself, he said.
He said Washington has informed China that it supports the joint statement that was hammered out in Beijing over the weekend and is now being reviewed by the other members of the talks.
Hill expected China to announce the latest six-party joint statement in the next day or so.
"As the Chinese canvass the other members of the six-party process, I am expecting that they will be in a position in the next day or two to announce and to release the joint statement," he said.
He added that the statement "relates very directly to how we can move forward in the coming months on a certain timetable" on the DPRK providing a full declaration of its nuclear programs and disabling key elements of its Yongbyon nuclear facility that produces plutonium.
Hill left Beijing Sunday soon after the delegation heads' meeting, with the comprehensive document for consultations with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the White House.
He said at the airport before leaving that the United States believed the draft document was well prepared and very specific, and as it included very detailed contents, he had to take it back home for further study.
The current stage of the six-party talks was aimed at creating the second phase action plan to implement the Sept. 19 agreement, which includes commitments from the DPRK to declare its nuclear program and disable its nuclear facilities, as well as the other parties' aid to the DPRK.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article