US delegation head Christopher Hill said yesterday evening that the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is "close to the end."  

Hill also expressed appreciation of China's good job in drafting the joint document for the talks, saying the delegations would make a "final comment" on the latest fourth draft today. The negotiators "are really getting close to the end of this round," he said.

"Whether we have a draft everyone agrees on, or whether it is decided that there should be a recess of some kind, we don't know yet," said Hill. "Because it all depends on what the responses all the delegations have on the draft."

Hill said he was satisfied with China's latest draft, saying though the other sides may look at it differently, "it is a good draft" and a "negotiated document."

Chief negotiators of the fourth round of six-party talks will continue their meeting today to discuss the fourth draft document, seeking a possible agreement.

The open-ended fourth round of six-party talks, involving China, the US, Russia, Japan, North and South Korea, enters a record ninth day today.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2005)