Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Thursday that the specific date for the new round of six-party talks is still undecided, but all parties are making positive preparations.  

As a member of the Chinese delegation in the first round of six-party talks held in Beijing in August, Liu hoped that during the preparation process, all parties should increase contacts, narrow differences and expand consensus to help make achievements in the talks and ensure the talks be continued.

The parties were making contacts with each other already, he said, and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo had arrived in Tokyo Wednesday for talks with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeuchi Yukio on Thursday.

Liu said China and Russia had no chance to consult on the talks since China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed to resume the six-party talks during the recent visit to the DPRK by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress.

The both sides should consult with each other as soon as possible, said Liu.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2003)