Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi flew to RoK earlier on August 13 for a two-day trip aimed at preparing for an expected visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao later this month.

Minister Yang reconfirmed China's “unchangeable support and assistance” for the resolution of the nuclear issue and the improvement of inter-Korean relations, RoK President Lee's office was quoted as saying in a statement.

Meanwhile, RoK President Lee was quoted as saying that he expected China to continue to play “a constructive role”' in producing progress in international efforts to end the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea's nuclear program and in ties between the divided Koreas.