Four delegations, from Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the United States, are to arrive in Beijing Monday for the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, which are scheduled to open here Wednesday.

The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is expected to arrive here Tuesday for the talks, which are scheduled to last for three days at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Analysts here said the talks represent an important step towards a peaceful solution to the Korean nuclear issue.

The heads of the delegations to the talks are Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kim Yong Il, DPRK deputy foreign minister, James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the United States, Alexander Losiukov, Russian deputy foreign minister, Lee Soo-Hyuck, Republic of Korea deputy minister of foreign affairs and trade, and Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry of Japan.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2003)