"Kim Yong-Il is starting his visit to China from today," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.

He will meet Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, she said.

North Korea boycotted the most recent set of six-nation negotiations scheduled for September following three inconclusive earlier rounds.

China, hosts of the talks which also involve the two Koreas, the United States, Russia and Japan, has stepped up efforts to revive the negotiations after US President George W. Bush's re-election last week.

"We hope all parties can show their flexibility and sincerity so that the talks can be held soon. This will be beneficial to the political resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula," Zhang said.

China has maintained close contacts with all sides and was making efforts to have the talks resume at an early date, she said.

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