The delegation of the United States for the second round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue left Beijing for home Saturday evening.

The US delegation is headed by James Kelly, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

A senior US official said the just concluded second round of the six-party talks was "very successful". The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China was not only a "participant", but also a "facilitator", and has done an "exceptional job."

The Chairman's Statement released after the talks says the parties agreed to continue the process of the talks and agreed in principle to hold the third round of the six-party talks in Beijing no later than the end of the second quarter of 2004. They agreed to set up a working group in preparation for the plenary.

The US delegation arrived here Monday evening for the talks, which were held in Beijing from Wednesday to Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2004)