Chief Japanese delegate to the fifth-round six-party talks Kenichiro Sasae spoke highly of the chairman's statement issued at the talks on Korean nuclear issue, which concluded in Beijing Friday.

The chairman's statement, taking into account all parties' interests, is conducive to implementing the joint statement at an early date, Kenichiro Sasae told reporters after the three-day talks ended.

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.

Initiated in 2003, the talks on the nuclear issue involve China, North and South Korea, the US, Russia and Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2005)