The Australian government on Wednesday welcomed China's announcement that the six-party talks on the Korean peninsular nuclear issue will reconvene in Beijing on Feb. 8 this year.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman made the announcement on Tuesday."The talks represent a further opportunity for North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to address international concerns over the threat posed by its nuclear weapons programs," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement.

"But merely returning to the talks is not enough, and progress must be made on the substantive issues," he said.

Downer said a constructive, diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is vital for the security and stability of the whole region, and of DPRK itself.

He said Australia will continue to support international efforts to bring about a peaceful and lasting resolution of the nuclear issue of DPRK, and will work closely with like-minded countries to that end.

"As I have repeatedly told the North Korean (DPRK) government in the past, further development of the bilateral relationship can only occur when North Korea makes substantive progress to resolve the nuclear issue," he said.

"Should North Korea demonstrate real commitment to denuclearization, and its own oft-stated desire for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, Australia stands ready to provide economic development assistance to North Korea, including through the provision of energy aid," he said.

The previous phase of talks recessed in December last year after five days of negotiations which produced no breakthrough.

Launched in 2003, the talks involve China, DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia.

Source: Xinhua