North Korea has positively assessed the cooperative ties of China and Russia ahead of a summit between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The North's state newspaper reported that the two countries have been recently conducting active high-level exchanges and strengthening ties in all areas of politics, economy and security.

The paper noted that in protest of Washington's ban of arms sales to China, Russia pledged to provide Beijing with military equipment and technology and to hold joint military drills.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency on Tuesday cited Chinese President Hu Jintao as saying that his country will closely cooperate with Moscow to resolve North Korea's nuclear impasse and to prompt Pyongyang's return to the six-way talks.