Paek Nam Sun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK), arrived in BeijingTuesday morning for talks with senior Chinese officials on issues of common concern.

"On issues that concern the interests of DPRK, China will keep communications with DPRK and step up mutual understanding and support," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said when meeting with Paek Tuesday afternoon.

"Their talks are expected to touch upon bilateral relations, regional and international issues of common concern," sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Paek earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Paek is visiting China as guest of of his Chinese counterpart.

Paek's China tour came at a time when the six-party talks on Korean nuclear issue remained stalled since the last round of meeting was held in Beijing last November.

The last round talks, involving China, DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, ended up with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.

But as Washington imposed financial sanctions on Pyongyang for alleged counterfeiting and money laundering, until now there has been no signs that the talks will be resumed.

Christopher Hill, chief U.S. negotiator to the six-party talks on Korean nuclear issue, visited Beijing last week and said that there was no new progress on the six-party talks.

Paek will also tour south China's Guangdong Province, the country's booming province, which DPRK leader Kim Jong Il visited in January.

Source: Xinhua