China welcomes both Pyongyang's offer to freeze its nuclear programs and Washington's response, saying that Beijing is ready to hold a second round of six-party talks at any time. 

"China welcomes the further willingness of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to stop nuclear activities," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a regular press conference in Beijing Thursday.

"China also appreciates US Secretary of State Colin Powell's positive response in this regard," Kong said.

Pyongyang said on Tuesday it is willing to refrain from testing and producing nuclear weapons and stop nuclear activities.

"The DPRK is set to refrain from test and production of nuclear weapons and stop even operating nuclear power industries for a peaceful purpose as first-phase measures on the package solution," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary, saying it could not make concessions any bolder.

Powell responded by saying the chances of a second round of talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are improving.

"This is an interesting step on their part, a positive step, and we hope that it will allow us to move more rapidly toward six-party framework talks," Powell said, referring to talks which involve the DPRK, the United States, China, Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.

ROK and Japan on Wednesday also welcomed DPRK's statement.

"I believe the gaps are narrowing and the parties have a better understanding of each other's positions," Kong said.

He said progress has been made on a draft statement to be agreed on at a second round of talks.

"The talks should carry on past achievements. These talks should bear concrete results," he said.

"We believe that the preparations for the talks are making progress. We hope to hold the talks as soon as possible. The Chinese side is working on this behalf," Kong said.

His comments came as an unofficial US delegation kicked off a five-day visit to the DPRK on Tuesday.

The spokesman noted that the parties still disagree on the prospects and the discussion content of the second round talks.

He said that China and other countries do not have a clear idea of DPRK's nuclear agenda and capability, expressing China's hope to discuss the resolution through direct consultation.

"We have repeated our position on this issue, i.e., the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear free and DPRK's security concerns should be taken into account."

China has been trying to convene a new round of talks on the nuclear standoff. A first round of discussions took place in Beijing last August but ended without an exact date for second round talks.

Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokesman said China is making the utmost efforts with the international community to overcome severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a challenge to the whole human kind.

Kong said cooperation between China and the international community, including international organizations and other countries and regions, has made gradual progress.

China has built a comprehensive prevention and monitoring system to fight SARS since it broke out last year, Kong said, and China is confident of preventing another outbreak.

The World Health Organization has expressed the opinion that China has established an effective, reactive and transparent monitoring system to fight SARS, Kong said. 

Kong also announced Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun, minister of external relations of Mongolia, will pay an official visit to China on Jan. 14-20, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

During his visit, the Mongolian foreign minister will be invited to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Kong said.

(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, January 9, 2004)