Saturday, July 30 2005 12:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: China, host of the six-party talks, today (July 30, 2005) presented a draft of a joint statement for discussion to the countries in a bid to peacefully dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, even as North Korean and American delegations met for a record sixth time to reduce differences on the issue.

After a series of bilateral meetings as part of the talks under way in Beijing, the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia have begun drafting a "statement of principles" that would provide the basis of an agreement, diplomats told reporters here (Beijing).

Heads of the six delegations held talks this morning but no details were available on the fifth day of the talks, which opened here on Tuesday (July 26, 2005) after a 13-month hiatus.

Also today, the Chinese delegation held separate meetings with the North Korean and US delegations on the draft document, which may be issued at the conclusion of parleys.

Sources say the crucial in-camera talks stretched into the weekend as North Korea resisted Washington's demand to dismantle all its nuclear programs, including civilian nuclear capabilities for peaceful use.