DPRK and US hold first one-on-one meeting on financial issue

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-20-2006 08:25

The DPRK and the US held their first one-on-one meetings on the second day of Six-Party talks in Beijing on Tuesday. China called for flexible attitudes, to give the talks a chance of tangible progress.

The man at the center is O Kwang Chol, the DPRK's special envoy on foreign trade. His arrival has added new uncertainties for the Six-Party talks. He's here to negotiate key financial issues with his counterpart, Daniel Glaser, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Treasury Department. Daniel Glaser said," we have a lot to talk about."

Their meeting is the highlight of the second day of the six-party talks. The DPRK has laid down several preconditions for abandoning its nuclear project. Pyongyang wants the US to remove the financial restrictions it imposed last year, a condition it considers vital to progress of the talks.

The two sides also held their first bilateral meeting this session at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.

But back at the hotel, the US chief negotiator says he is not optimistic.

Christopher Hill, US envoy to 6-party talks, said, "I think I would be hard pressed to tell you any progress was made. In terms of implementing the joint statement, I didn't feel I could see too much progress from yesterday."

On Tuesday afternoon, O Kwang Chol met with Daniel Glaser at the US Embassy in Beijing. The closed-door meeting could be crucial to this session of the talks. No details have been released by either side, but it is believed the meeting could have a dramatic influence and determine the final outcome of the talks.

China say differences are precisely why delegations meet.

Qin Gang, spokesman Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "As long as the six-party talks resume and continue, we are on the road to de-nuclearizing the Korean Peninsula."

China is putting no time constraints on this gathering.

Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo held a reception banquet for all of the envoys on Tuesday night. The top negotiators were seated at one table, in the hope of bringing them closer and narrowing differences. China hopes real progress will be made to improves mutual trust, rather than continuing tough talk.

Negotiators from the six parties were hoping that Day two of the 6 party talks would bring proactive signs. And any agreement on substantial concessions to advance the process will require intense labor, in the days ahead.

Editor:Du Xiaodan