Chief negotiator for the nuclear talks from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Kye-Gwan met with Chinese officials on Thursday to discuss the next phase of the six-party talks, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Kim met with Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and briefed the Chinese on the recently completed bilateral negotiations between the DPRK and the United States, said spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a regular press conference.

"The two sides exchanged views on the six-party talks, as well as the direction for the next phase of work," Jiang said.

China is consulting with other members of the talks to set a date for the next round, which would focus on the DPRK's full declaration of its nuclear facilities and their disablement, Jiang told reporters.

In a landmark six-party deal brokered in February, the DPRK agreed to dismantle all of its nuclear facilities and programs in exchange for diplomatic concessions, energy, and other aid.

Following a DPRK-US meeting in Geneva over the weekend, US envoy Christopher Hill said Sunday that the DPRK had agreed to declare and disable its nuclear facilities by the end of 2007.

The six-party talks, initiated in 2003, involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Japan.

In a session of the six-party talks held in July, envoys agreed to meet in Beijing in early September to hear working group reports and work out a road map for the implementation of the general consensus reached in July.

China backs UN on Darfur

China has praised UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's efforts to resolve the Darfur issue and will play a constructive role, Jiang said.

Ban, on a four-day visit to Sudan that started Monday, stressed the importance of reaching a political settlement and deploying the African Union-UN hybrid force quickly to end a prolonged ethnic conflict.

"International society could push forward the peace-keeping and political processes in a balanced way, help improve the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, and finally push forward the comprehensive and proper solution to the issue," the Jiang said.

China has always played a constructive role in the Darfur issue, she added.

Liu Guijin, a special envoy for the Darfur issue, is at the UN until September 12. According to Jiang, Liu will communicate with government officials, the United States Congress, scholars, and the media during the trip.

Asia Pacific needs 'new concept of security'

"Under the current international situation, we think that all countries should build a new concept of security, in a move to build a harmonious and stable Asia Pacific on the basis of mutual trust among countries," Jiang told the regular press conference.

"The new security concept will meet the interests of all people in the region," Jiang said, responding to a question concerning combined naval exercises held by India, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday.

The joint naval exercises, which involved three aircraft carriers, hundreds of military aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and submarines, was the biggest-ever war game in the international waters between Visakhapatnam and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

China, as an active player in the course of peace, cooperation, and development in the Asia Pacific, would like to work with other nations to achieve win-win results through dialogue and cooperation, Jiang said.

Hacking accusation refuted

"Some people are making wild accusations against China and saying the Chinese military attacked the British government's computer network. These are totally groundless and irresponsible and with ulterior motives," said Jiang.

"The Chinese government has always opposed internet crimes, including hacking, and prosecuted them according to the law," Jiang added.

The Guardian reported Wednesday that Chinese hackers, some believed to be from the People's Liberation Army, have been attacking the computer networks of British government departments.