Positive signs emerge for resumption of six-party talks, more trust needed

Wang Fan, director of Institute of International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University, praised China's recent efforts.

The latest mediation efforts indicated China's activeness to let the six-party mechanism play a better role in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula, Wang told Xinhua in an interview.

"China, which is the host recognized by all other parties in the mechanism, is playing an active role in the process," said Wang.

Jin Canrong, an international politics analyst at People's University of China, said it's a proper opportunity for China to launch such an intensive mediation effort months after the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March.

China's mediation would exert a significant positive influence on the resumption of the six-party talks, the Beijing News newspaper quoted Jin as saying in a recent interview.

The six-party talks on the DPRK nuclear issue involve China, the United States, the ROK, the DPRK, Japan and Russia. They were launched in 2003 but have been stalled since April 2009.

MORE TRUST NEEDED

Jin was cautious about making predictions for a swift reopening of the six-party talks, saying it needs a period of time for the multilateral talks to restart really and truly.

Differences still remain among the DPRK, the ROK and Japan despite their expression of readiness to resume the six-party talks, which could be seen as their gestures, said Jin, adding the countries have their own respective intentions.

The DPRK has always hoped that the United States will give up its hostile policy, Jin said.

The ROK has called for a DPRK explanation on the issue of the sinking warship, although the DPRK has denied involvement. It also urges the DPRK to totally abandon its nuclear program. The United States and Japan support the ROK on these issues, Jin continued.

"China, which knows the intentions of the relevant parties, is seeking a balance among their interests via the intensive visits," said Jin.

Meanwhile, Wang said it's not easy for the six-party talks to achieve a substantial breakthrough in the near future if it reopens without solid trust among the members.

The relevant parties, particularly the DPRK, the ROK, the United States, need more trust for the resumption of the six-party talks, said Wang.

The DPRK has shown signs of willingness to improve relations with the United States despite its routine protest against the joint war games by the ROK and the United States, he continued.

For example, the DPRK allowed former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to visit the country and help secure the release of an American citizen.

The six-party talks are a good platform for communication which can not be replaced by any other mechanism at present, said Wang, adding that related parties need to further make trust-building efforts and improve the mechanism so that it can better contribute to the peace and stability in the region.

First of all, all parties in the talks, including the DPRK, should be treated equally and their security concerns should be respected, which is the basis of more trust in the talks, said Wang.

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BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- China Tuesday said it hoped all participants in the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will jointly work to create conditions for restarting the talks. Full Story