The consultations on the second round of six-party talks by all related parties have so far been beneficial, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Tuesday.  

Liu said at a regular press conference that China hopes that through efforts by all parties, the second round of talks can be held at an early date and progress can be made during the talks.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry Fu Ying met with visiting Yevgeny Afanasyev, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's No.1 Asian Department on Nov. 17, said Liu, adding that China and Russia exchanged views on the preparations for the six-party talks.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2003)