Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wednesday exchanged views in Beijing with Lee Soo-hyuck, deputy minister of foreign affairs and trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK), on issues concerning the Beijing six-party talks.  

Both sides spoke positively on the progress achieved by the second round of talks and expressed the hope that a working group would lay solid foundations for the next round of talks.

Wang noted that China hopes the concerned parties would focus on the positive messages from the second round talks and take measures to help promote mutual trust and further boost the talks.     

The second round of the six-party talks were held in Beijing from Feb. 25 to 28 with the participation of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the ROK, Japan and Russia. All the parties agreed to set up a working group and convene the third round of talks by the end of June.

The first round of talks lasted for three days from Aug. 27 to 29, 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2004)