Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing exchanged views over the phone on Thursday and Friday evening with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and US Secretary of State Colin Powell on the impending six-party talks to be held in Beijing.

Li also met with Choe Jin Su, ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to China, on the same subject Thursday evening.

Li said the Beijing six-party talks are the fruit of joint efforts made by the parties concerned, and provide a significant opportunity for the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula to be resolved by dialogue in a peaceful way.

He also said that China is willing to join hands with the parties involved to push forward the talks and contribute to peacefully solving the nuclear issue and maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region as a whole.

The United States, Russia and the DPRK expressed appreciation for China's work to promote the Beijing six-party talks, and expressed willingness to make constructive efforts with the parties concerned to make the talks a success.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2003)