Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov said in Beijing Monday that he showed "cautious optimism" on the upcoming six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.  

Losiukov said that he will head for the Chinese Foreign Ministry for further consultation soon after arrival.

Losiukov admitted there were "a number of uncertainties" around the talks. All sides will fully state their stance in the first day of the talks, due to open on Feb. 25, and Russia hopes to score progress in this round of talks, he told press at the airport. 

He said that the stand of Russia is "very close" with the stand held by China so today's consultation can "create conditions" for the future talks, adding that the two countries had already had effective cooperation after the first round of talks.

Russia will consult with other four parties, the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and Japan Tuesday, Losiukov said.

The Russian delegation is the first to arrive here besides the Chinese delegation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2004)