A Japanese daily says China and North Korea have a prior agreement that the North will express its intent to participate in a preliminary meeting of the six-party nuclear talks during a summit between Kim Jong-il and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Quoting North Korean and Chinese officials, the Asahi Shimbun reported Wednesday that the two sides reached the agreement during bilateral working officials' preparatory meetings for the summit.

The paper said Kim will express to Hu his support for the preliminary meeting in person, saving face for China as the host of the nuclear talks. The paper forecast Beijing will provide massive amounts of food aid and investment in return.

The report, however, projected that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will not take part in the preliminary meeting if the North is found to be involved in the sinking of South Korea’s “Cheonan” naval vessel, even if the North announces its participation in the meeting.