Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Delegation would like to thank the Director-General for his report on the application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and appraise positively the Agency and Director-General for their contributions to the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula.

Since the last session of the Board of Governors, there has been constant important progress in the Six Party Talks and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The meeting for the Head of Delegations for the Six Parties took place in Beijing on July 10th through 12th, at which it was decided that a verification and monitoring regime would be set up and a mechanism guideline was adopted, a timeframe was set to complete the Second Phase Actions before the end of October. On July 23rd, the foreign ministers of Six Parties had informal consultations in Singapore. All parties exchanged views on the Six Party Talks’ process and some important issues in a spirit of being frank and positive, which results in enhanced consensus and deeper understanding. It is in the common interest of all parties and conforms to the general aspiration of the international community to continue to advance the Six Party Talks’ process and achieve all targets set in the “September 19th Joint Statement” at an early date.

At present, the Six Party Talks is faced with an opportunity to make further progress and overcome some difficulties at the same time. We expect all parties to increase their mutual trust, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, demonstrate flexibility, overcome the immediate difficulties, meet each other halfway, make common efforts to implement the Second-Phase Actions in a timely, comprehensive and balanced manner and promote the Six Party Talks process to a new level.

Mr. Chairman,

China consistently advocates a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Peninsula, the achievement of denuclearization on the Peninsula and the maintenance of peace and stability on the Peninsula and Northeast Asia through dialogue. Witnessed by all parties, the Six Party Talks continues to grow and mature and has become an effective mechanism to resolve the nuclear issue on the Peninsula through means of dialogue and it is also an important platform for all parties to construct a new harmonious pattern for dialogues and consultations in Northeast Asia. As the chair of the Six Party Talks, China would like to continue, together with all related parties and the international community, to play a constructive role in achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia. China hopes that the Board’s consideration on this issue is conducive to pushing the Six Party Talks process to move forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.