The US is "very much committed to" the upcoming six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Christopher Hill, head of the US delegation, said in Beijing Sunday.   

"We come here to try to make some real progress.... We would like to make measurable progress.... I wouldn't expect this to be the last set of negotiation," Hill said upon his arrival at the Beijing International Club for residence.

Hill, US assistant secretary of state, arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at about 3:00 PM Sunday to attend the upcoming new round of the six-party talks.

"We are really looking forward to this negotiation and meeting all other delegations.... It is going to take a little time and a lot of work.... We will try to do the best we can to make sure we reach progress," he said.

Hill said he had no idea about how long the new round of the talks will last.

He said the US delegation will do a lot of consultations tomorrow night and begin overall negotiation on Tuesday.

The new round of the talks, which involves China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea, will begin at 9:00 AM (0100 GMT) Tuesday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the venue for the previous three rounds of the six-party talks.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2005)