The government is calling Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan’s visit to North Korea next week "timely and significant."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Gyu-hyung said Friday that Seoul hopes Tang's visit will constructively assist the resumption and progress of the six-party talks.

On its homepage, the Chinese foreign ministry said Tang will visit the North next week as President Hu Jintao's special envoy as part of efforts to resolve the nuclear issue, following U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to China.