The Russian delegation kept "very prudent optimism" about the new round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue after the first-day negotiation.??

Alexander Alexeyev, head of the Russian delegation and deputy foreign minister, made the remarks after the end of overall negotiation and a series of bilateral contacts among parties concerned yesterday.

 

The talks, involving China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea, started at 9:00 AM at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing addressed the opening ceremony of the talks aimed at realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

 

The new round of the talks was presided over by Wu Dawei, head of the Chinese delegation and vice foreign minister. Heads of all the delegations made remarks at the opening ceremony of the talks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)