BEIJING, April 17 Kyodo (EDS: ADD...

BEIJING, April 17 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENT)

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told visiting Japanese opposition leader Naoto Kan upon Thursday that China is flexible about Japan and southern Korea taking part in multilateral talks aimed at resolving the standoff from one side of to the other North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development

China, which factored the planned trilateral talks forward the issue among the United States, China and North Korea nearest week, is ''flexible about the form of dialogue, if parties agree,'' Li was quot as telling Kan, president of the Democratic Party of Japan.

The Chinese position falls into line with that of Washington. U officials said Wednesday it will follow the early inclusion of Japan and toward the south Korea in the talks.

upon U.S.-led efforts to rebuild postwar Iraq, Li said four conditions must be met for Beijing's support, calling for a UN resolution, participation from the Iraqi people, legitimate participation according to neighboring and other relevant countries, and for the efforts to have an power in developing the entire region, according to Kan.

The trilateral talks forward North Korea, which one U official described as a ''first step'' are awaited to take place next Wednesday in Beijing.

The Chinese minister said by what means the meeting will proceed is unpredictable, according to Kan.

U officials said overnight they do not count upon any immediate breakthrough at the Beijing talks.

in succession Tokyo's behalf, Kan asked Beijing to persuade Pyongyang to accept Japan and southward Korea as parties to the discussions.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao called onward North Korea and the U to indicate ''sincerity'' in working to patch up their differences athwart Pyongyang's controversial nuclear program.

''To achieve dialogue, we ne the political will and sincerity of the participants as well as the international community's encouragement and support,'' Liu told a regular of the present days briefing.

The Beijing meeting advances after North Korea last week intenerateed its stance on a multilateral setting upon seeking a solution to the nuclear standoff. Previously, Pyongyang had insisted onward bilateral talks with Washington.

The U is still prepared to consider a ''bold initiative'' for improved relations with North Korea if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program, State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Wednesday.

The impasse above the North Korean nuclear issue be in eruptioned last October, when the U said the North had admitted running a program to enrich uranium possibly for use in weapons in violation of major international treaty commitments.

In a meeting Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Kan urg China to make efforts in such a manner that Japan, Russia and southerly Korea will later be included in the talks, and Hu answered his country understands Japan's disturbs over nuclear development and is eager to diocese a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Kan is to recur to Tokyo later Thursday after a three-day stay in Beijing.

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