The Beijing six-party talks ended Friday with a six-point consensus after three days of reclusive meetings.

Chinese experts described the six-party talks as a new attempt to solve security problems in the current international situation,and said the talks undoubtedly laid a foundation for a peaceful settlement to the Korean nuclear issue.

The six nations --China,the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),the United States,the Republic of Korea (ROK),Russia and Japan --agreed to resolve the nuclear issue through peaceful means and dialogue.

They also agreed to maintain a nuclear-free Korean peninsula;to explore an overall plan to resolve the nuclear issue in a just and reasonable manner;to refrain from taking any action that may aggravate the situation,and to continue the talks.

Although the 500-plus journalists didn't miss any chance of bombarding with questions any delegation they could catch,no details of the talks came out.

One thing for sure is that the DPRK and the United States had bilateral contacts during the three-day talks,but differences still remain between them.

The problem is who should make the first move.Should the DPRK abandon its nuclear program first in return for a change in US policy?Or should the order be reversed?

The six-party talks,held Aug.27-29,seem to have produced no clear answer to this dilemma.

Since the Korean nuclear crisis erupted in October last year,the Chinese government has been mediating among the parties concerned for a peaceful solution.

China managed to persuade the DPRK and the US to sit down for three-party talks in Beijing last April,marking a good start for solving the nuclear issue through dialogue.

Although the three-party talks produced no results,the Chinesegovernment did not slacken its efforts to seek a peaceful solutionto the issue.

Over the past four months,Chinese President Hu Jintao talked with the US President Gorge W.Bush and ROK President Roh Moo-hyunseveral times over the phone,exchanging views on the Korean nuclear issue.At the same time,Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister DaiBingguo and Wang Yi paid visits to the United States and the DPRK.

"No matter how intense and complicated the disputes are,we need and can find a solution acceptable to each side through communication and dialogue,and that is also the best way to realize national and regional security,"said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in a meeting with delegates of the six parties at noon on Friday.

On July 27fifty years ago,an armistice treaty was signed,after through 575rounds of talks and negotiations,marking the end of the three-year Korean war .

On Aug.27,2003,China,the DPRK,the United States,the ROK,Russia and Japan gathered in Beijing,seeking permanent path to peace and stability.

"This will be a complicated and difficult process,requiring political determination and diplomatic wisdom,as well as high degrees of sense and patience,"Tang said.