China, Russia shun US-hosted Asia security talks

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 21 (Reuters) China and Russia shunned the United States today by boycotting US-hosted talks on North Asian security issues that also focused on North Korea's nuclear program.

US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill told reporters that the United States did not see China and Russia's decision not to attend the meeting as a snub to the United States. ''They did not say it was for policy reasons,'' he said, adding that seven other countries had been there.

''The secretary has seen China and Russia throughout the week -- breakfast, lunch and dinner,'' he said, referring to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who hosted the talks.

Attendees were the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

North Korea was also invited but did not attend, just as they have stayed away since last November from six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions after the United States slapped financial sanctions on them. The six-party talks bring together China, Russia, Japan, the two Koreas and the United States.

Today's meeting, which lasted about an hour, was intended as a follow-up from similar North Asian security talks in Malaysia last July on the sidelines of an Asian regional conference. China had arrived late to that meeting, saying it had been trying to get North Korea to come.

Hill made clear that the talks held today and last July were not intended to replace the six-party process and he reiterated a call for Pyongyang to return to those discussions, saying all the other participants were ready.

He said today's meeting was also aimed at showing North Korea that there was broader concern about its nuclear programs and also demonstrated that while it could boycott the six-party process Pyongyang could not veto other discussions.

REUTERS PB PM2123

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