The first phase of the fifth-round six-party talks concluded in Beijing Friday. Chinese delegation head Wu Dawei read a chairman's statement at the closing ceremony.

The parties agreed to hold the second-phase meeting "at the earliest possible date," according to the chairman's statement.

"The parties reaffirmed that they would fully implement the joint statement in line with the principle of 'commitment for commitment, action for action,' so as to realize the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at an early date and contribute to lasting peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," says the statement.

The first phase of the fifth-round six-party talks, involving China, North and South Korea, the US, Russia and Japan, started in Beijing on Wednesday.

The statement says the parties conducted "serious, pragmatic and constructive discussions" and put forward proposals on how to implement the joint statement of the fourth-round six-party talks.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)