Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang will visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) from Oct. 23 to 27, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

At the invitations of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government, Li will pay an official friendly visit to the DPRK from Oct. 23 to 25, before his visit to the ROK from Oct. 26 to 27 as guest of the ROK government, Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a press briefing in Beijing.

As the DPRK and the ROK are both important neighbors to China, China has maintained frequent high-level exchanges with both countries, Jiang said.

During the visit, Li will hold talks and meetings with leaders of both countries on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Jiang said. "We believe the visit will positively boost the further development of China's relations with the DPRK and the ROK."

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Jiang said China, as a country neighboring the Peninsula and a friend of both the DPRK and the ROK, sincerely supports the North-South cooperation to improve ties and seek reconciliation, and expects the Peninsula to maintain peace and stability and realize lasting peace.

China has maintained close communication and consultation with the DPRK,the ROK and other relevant parties on easing the Peninsular situation and pushing forward the six-party talks.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks involved China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia. The talks have been suspended since December 2008.

"China would like to work with other parties to make positive efforts to seek peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," Jiang said.