China announced Thursday that the next round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program will begin on November 9 and said progress could be made if all sides remain committed.
"After consultations with relevant parties the six-party talks will begin on November 9," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters.
"We hope all parties concerned take an active and constructive attitude to start the new round of talks and make joint efforts."
The previous round ended in September with a statement of principles under which North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons program in return for energy and security guarantees. But immediately afterwards Pyongyang said it would not dismantle its nuclear arsenal until the United States agreed to supply it with a light-water atomic reactor to generate electricity.
The United States has since insisted that North Korea must first end all its nuclear weapons programs in a complete and verifiable way. "If the parties concerned can follow the consensus of the last round of talks, that is commitment for commitment and action for action, then the contents of the joint statement and progress on implementation can be made," Kong said.
A flurry of diplomatic activities from all sides in recent weeks, including a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Pyongyang, ensured the fifth round of talks would go ahead on schedule at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
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