Originally Scheduled at 11:00 Saturday morning, the closing ceremony is expected to declare a joint document agreed by all six sides including China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the US, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan.

 

US top delegate, James Kelly, says he will leave Beijing on Saturday.

 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Friday though there are still some differences, relevant parties are still working on a joint document.

 

The US has maintained the position that a "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling" of the DPRK's nuclear facilities are necessary, but Liu Jianchao stresses that it's not enough. He says the DPRK's security concerns should also be discussed and addressed.

 

The DPRK?delegation again accused the US side of anti-Pyongyang hostility, saying that has stalled the peace talks.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Colin Powell exchanged views over the phone Friday evening on the second round of the six-party talks. No details of the phone conversation were disclosed.

 

(CRI.com February 28, 2004)