Negotiators from the six nations continued to work out a joint document on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue today as the six-party talks entered a record tenth day, approaching the final stage. 

US chief negotiator Christopher Hill described yesterday's negotiations as the "lightest day yet."

Hill did not give any details on yesterday's talks, but said Washington had offered its response to the draft.

He said it was not clear if Pyongyang had done the same or whether it had any objections, according to the Associated Press.

Hill held one-on-one talks with several delegations, including China and Japan, but did not meet with Pyongyang delegates and there was no group meeting of the heads of the six delegations yesterday as planned.

Delegates continued proposing suggestions on the fourth draft, put forward by China overnight after the latest discussion.

Hill said yesterday the draft "narrowed differences" among all sides and an agreement could possibly be reached.

"I think it is a very important text. It is a text that is really designed to narrow differences, maybe even get to the point where we can really agree on something," he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing talked with his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice over the phone yesterday. The two exchanged views on Sino-US relations and issues of common concern.

According to media in Seoul, the fourth draft not only outlines broad principles regarding Pyongyang's dismantling of its nuclear programs, but also includes Pyongyang's right to use nuclear power peacefully, and electricity and fuel oil aid.

(China Daily August 4, 2005)