The third working group meeting on energy and economic assistance for Pyongyang will be held next Monday at the truce village of Panmunjom, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said yesterday at a regular press conference.

 

The two-day meeting is expected to implement the consensus reached by the six-party talks and the previous similar discussion, which took place in August in Northeast China's Shenyang.

 

Liu said Beijing would send the delegation to take part in the meeting and "will continue to enhance coordination with other parties to keep the good momentum and implement the agreements in a comprehensive and balanced way."

 

Liu said two working groups responsible for the disabling of nuclear facilities have visited Pyongyang.

 

In response to the reports that China had angered the UN food agency, because food aid to Pyongyang was held up due to a railway dispute between train companies of the two countries, Liu said: "There is no problem."

 

"Rail transportation is running normally between China and North Korea and the transportation agreement signed between China and World Food Program is also running normally," Liu said.

 

In another development, Liu said Ibrahim Gambari, special envoy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, will visit China from Wednesday to Thursday, to discuss the situation in Myanmar with Chinese officials.

 

Liu said Gambari will meet or hold talks with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei.

 

They will exchange views on the situation in Myanmar and Ban's mediation efforts on the Myanmar issue, said Liu.

 

Gambari is on a six-nation Asian consultation tour to find a peaceful solution to the Myanmar situation, which includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan.

 

Liu also announced that Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein is to pay a state visit to China from October 29 to November 1 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao.

 

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will pay an official visit from October 31 to November 1 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

 

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)