China's special envoy to North Korea is in Washington for talks with U.S. officials ahead of working-level six-party nuclear talks.

On Monday, Ning Fukui met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and other officials to set the pace for next week's working group meeting in Beijing.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the two officials discussed the progress of the six-party talks and the upcoming working group meeting, which is scheduled to open next Wednesday.

He said Ning would hold further consultations with U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Joseph DeTrani, and also meet with Assistant State Secretary James Kelly.