Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Wednesday that the six parties to the talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will make joint efforts to make the new round of talks a "successful and a pleasant one".

Li told reporters after his meeting with Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, that the six parties will further enhance coordination and cooperation on relevant issues.

"I am sure all the parties attending the talks will demonstrate mutual understanding and mutual respect, and hold a flexible and practical attitude to promote progress in the talks," he said.

The six-party talks involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan announced Tuesday that the fourth round of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will start in Beijing on July 26.

Immediately after Kong made the announcement, the ROK and Russian delegations expressed anticipation for the talks and said they hope the new round of talks can make "substantial progress".

The previous three rounds of talks were held in Beijing on August 2003, February 2004 and June 2004, respectively.

After the third round of the talks, the DPRK decided to suspend participation, citing US hostility.

The DPRK announced to return to the six-party talks on July 9, after a meeting in Beijing between the top US and DPRK envoys to the talks.

Source: Xinhua