China has proposed holding working-level nuclear talks around the middle of next month.

Government sources in Washington and Tokyo said Tuesday that Beijing had conveyed the proposal to parties of the six-nation talks via unofficial channels.

The proposal comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's recent visit to Beijing, during which he and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to push forward with the six-party talks aimed at resolving the North's nuclear impasse.

According to the sources, the working group talks could open in the middle of next month if Pyongyang accepts China's proposal as all parties of the nuclear discussions, except for North Korea, had previously backed the idea of swiftly holding such working-level talks.

The sources said that a working group meeting is likely to convene around May 10.