Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei(R) shakes hands with Kim Yong- il, vice-minister of Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK, on August 28, 2005. Wu Dawei led a delegation from Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit DPRK on August 27, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

PYONGYANG, Aug. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The six countries involved in talks pertaining to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula have kept contact and negotiation throughout the recess, visiting Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said on Monday.

    "The date of resuming the talks is not important, the important thing is all the parties agreed to resume the talks and we all have kept contact and negotiation in the framework of the six-party talks," Wu told Xinhua.

    The fourth round of six-party talks -- involving China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan -- is on the track, he said.

    Wu, who is also the chief of the Chinese delegation to the talks, made the remarks before wrapping up his three-day visit to Pyongyang, which began on Saturday.

    During his visit, Wu met with DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun, and held talks with Kim Gye-gwan and Kim Yong-il, the DPRK's two deputy foreign ministers. Kim Gye-gwan is also the head of the country's delegation to six-party talks.

    The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues surrounding the resumption of the fourth round of six-party talks.

    Earlier this month, the fourth-round of six-party talks entered a three-week recess after 13 days of consultations. Enditem