US special representative on Korean policy Glyn Davies speaks to the media in Beijing on Tuesday. During his three-day stay in Beijing, Davies is scheduled to meet with Chinese diplomats, including Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, to discuss issues related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - US special representative on Korean policy Glyn Davies said he is looking forward to upcoming meetings with senior Chinese diplomats and will extend common ground between the two sides.

Davies made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon at a hotel in Beijing upon his arrival.

Davies is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei during his three-day stay in Beijing, which marks the last leg of his first Asia tour since he replaced Stephen Bosworth as envoy in October.

"All issues related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" will be discussed in meetings with Chinese diplomats, Davies said.

Piao Jianyi, a research fellow on Korean issues at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said one purpose of Davies' visit is to explain the US stance and listen to the views of the other three parties also involved in the talks.

Before visiting Beijing, Davies also visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, along with US Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks Clifford Hart and several national security staffers from the White House. Davies held meetings with senior ROK and Japanese diplomats and discussed the prospects for the long-stalled Six-Party Talks.

"The prospects for the nuclear talks have been unclear until now, since the US and the DPRK have had a hard time reaching a consensus on the preconditions for the resumption of the talks. The United States, however, should not aggravate the situation and push the DPRK out of the talks," Piao said.

Nuclear envoys from Washington and Pyongyang met in New York in July and in Geneva in October, but reported no breakthrough. The ROK's Yonhap news agency said that a third meeting could take place this month.

During recent contact, the two sides apparently narrowed differences on pending issues, including the DPRK's denuclearization steps and Washington's possible resumption of food aid to Pyongyang, Yonhap said.

"Depending on the situation, a possibility of holding a third round of meetings between the DPRK and the US before the year's end can not be ruled out," a diplomatic source was quoted as saying.

Xinhua-AFP