BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China called on here Saturday that parties involved in the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to continue their determination and patience, and use their wisdom to push forward the talks.

    When meeting the chief negotiators, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo said the fresh round of talks, which started Thursday, was "vitally important" and there were even harder tasks ahead to be accomplished.

    "Your diligent work would be paid back and China highly appreciates the constructive efforts you have made to promote the talks," Dai told the negotiators.

    The negotiators said that the negotiations in the past three days were "pragmatic" and "useful".

    They also pledged that their will and determination to resolve the nuclear issue under the framework of the six-party talks would never change and they would continue the hard work and score progress.

    China, the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan initiated the six-party talks in August 2003.

    A landmark agreement was reached on Feb. 13 this year. According to the agreement, the DPRK must declare all nuclear programs and disable all existing nuclear facilities while the other parties must provide a total of 1 million tons of heavy fueloil or equivalent aid the PRK.

    The first phase of the sixth round of talks was held in March this year in Beijing, which was concluded with a chairman's statement.