BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, which has become the focus of world attention, is to open at 9:00 Tuesday morning at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse here in Beijing. 

  

Journalists gather in front of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is to be held, in Beijing, July 26, 2005.   (Xinhua photo)

  Wu Dawei, head of the China delegation, Kim Kye-gwan, head of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Christopher Hill, head of the United States delegation, Song Min-soon, head of the delegation of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Alexander Alexeyev, head of the Russia delegation and Sasae Kenichiro, head of the Japan delegation, will address the opening ceremony, which will be televised live.

    After the opening ceremony, closed-door meetings and bilateral talks will continue, during which substantial negotiations will be held on resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in a peaceful manner.

    Since the conclusion of the last round of six-party talks, the dialogue process has been tortuous. After a 13-month standoff, the six nations finally all expressed their intention of resuming the talks.

    Delegations from DPRK, the United States, ROK, Russia and Japan have arrived in Beijing since last Friday. Over the past few days, they held a series of bilateral contacts and exchanged views on issues to be discussed during the imminent six-party talks. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held a welcome banquet in their honor Monday evening, at which the heads of the six delegations gathered for the first time.

    

Cars carrying delegation members of the Republic of Korea drive into the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is to be held, in Beijing, July 26, 2005.  (Xinhua photo)

From 2003 to 2004, China, the DPRK, the U.S., the ROK, Russia and Japan held three rounds of six-party talks in Beijing. Differing from the former talks, this round has no timetable for a conclusion. In comparison with the latest round of six-party talks, neither the DPRK or the U.S. have changed their basic standpoints.

    After he arrived in Beijing on Sunday, Christopher Hill, head of the U.S. delegation and assistant secretary of state, told reporters that the the United States is "very much committed" to the fourth round of six-party talks, and he wouldn't expect this to be the last set of negotiations.

    The DPRK urged the U.S. to push forward the six-party talks toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with active and sincere efforts.

    More than 500 journalists from home and abroad are covering the event. Enditem