Li is here as a guest of the Japanese foreign ministry to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a friendship treaty between the two nations, the ministry said.

Li is due to meet Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on Monday for talks likely to focus on bilateral ties and the six-nation talks.

He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday and other top Japanese politicians before he leaves for Seoul on Wednesday.

Asked about her upcoming meeting with Li, Kawaguchi said on a television talk show Sunday: "China has worked hard and has been very effective in setting up the (six-way) talks. Japan appreciates that very much."

Li's trip to Japan comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity following North Korea's agreement to the six-way talks, involving China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda is visiting China to celebrate the peace treaty's 25th anniversary and to discuss North Korean crisis with Chinese leaders.

Fukuda, the right-hand man of Koizumi, met with Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday and agreed to seek a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue.

China, North Korea's closest ally, had served as the chief mediator in arranging the six-nation talks.

It arranged the first round of three-way talks in April involving the United States, Chinese and North Korean officials.

WAR.WIRE