On July 28, 2005, Qin Gang, spokesman for the Chinese delegation and Deputy Director General of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry said that it is a good sign that the delegations of the DPRK and the US agree to continue one-on-one talks.

When answering related questions of journalists, Qin said that after a long period of meeting on the morning of July 28 the delegations of the DPRK and the US agreed to continue consultations. "It is also a progress" that the bilateral talks can go on and both parties can hold talks in a "mild and calm" attitude and move the talks in a "deeper and more pragmatic direction".

He said that differences still exist in the stances of the six delegations on this round of Talks and whether substantive breakthrough can be made will depend on the attitude of all parties concerned. An important basis for progress of the Talks is that all the parties can build up mutual trust and each of them takes into consideration the "reasonable concerns and requirements" of others.

Qin noted that up to now no end-date had been set for the Talks and denied that China would raise the draft of a joint document for the Talks on July 28.

According to Qin, Vice Chinese Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo said at noon of July 28 when meeting with the heads of the six delegations at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse that the fourth round of Six-Party Talks enjoy a sound atmosphere and all parties concerned have conducted frank, in-depth and pragmatic discussions on how to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and define the general objective for the Six-Party Talks. The Talks are moving in the right direction.

Quoting the words of Dai Bingguo, Qin noted that since the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is complicated it is normal for parties concerned to have different stances. The entire world is paying attention to Diaoyutai and it is hoped that all parties concerned make joint efforts to "catch fishes in Diaoyutai". The heads of the six delegations also agreed to "fish together".

Qin said that one characteristic of this round of Talks is that there are many bilateral contacts, but the Talks also involve plenary sessions, meeting of heads of the delegations, work meetings and other forms. China has held altogether 12 bilateral consultations with the other five parties, including 3 with the US, 3 with the DPRK, 3 with Japan, 2 with Russia and 1 with the ROK.

He stressed that the bilateral consultations are not held independently but within the framework of the Six-Party Talks. Many issues need to be discussed first at bilateral consultations and then at the plenary sessions. Bilateral contacts will continue on the morning of July 29.

He also disclosed that the delegations of the DPRK and the US held one-on-one talks on the afternoon of July 28. Up to now the delegations of Japan and the DPRK have yet not held any direct bilateral consultations and it is said that the heads of the two delegations has agreed to hold bilateral contacts at appropriate time.

"As a participant in the process, China is willing to do anything which helps push for substantive result of the Talks," said Qin.