Hoping to arrange a second round of six-way talks as soon as possible, China said Tuesday it is in close contact with the five other sides involved with the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

China's special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue, Ning Fukui, and the ministry's head of department of affairs, Fu Ying, were expected to meet US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly later Tuesday in Washington, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.

He told reporters that China would offer DPRK aid within its capacity, but rebuffed a report that it is meant to encourage Pyongyang to participate in a new round of six-nation talks on its nuclear programme.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, had discussed aid to the DPRK during a visit to Pyongyang in late October, Kong said.

He said the relevant authorities between the two sides are discussing specific programmes of economic assistance.

Other countries in the talks are the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

During a two-day visit starting from Wednesday, Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing to review the development of bilateral relations as well to arrange high-level exchanges in the future, he said.

Kong said Chinese national leaders might also meet with Ivanov without further explanation.

Along with his counterparts from the other Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) members, Ivanov will also appear at the inaugural ceremony of the launch of the SCO secretariat on January 15 in Beijing.

The spokesman said the Zhang Huazhu, chairman of China Atomic Energy Authority, and visiting US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham had signed a statement of intent on the co-operation of peaceful utilization of nuclear power, non-proliferation and anti-terrorism.

At the invitation of State Planning and Reform Committee, the US delegation of Department of Energy visited China on January 10-12, Kong said.

In another development, three citizens of the Republic of Korea (ROK) were deported Wednesday for their illegal activities of the banned cult, sources with the Chinese judicial authorities said.

Nam Sang-sik, 49,, Pak Chang-kuk, 48, and Ahn Suk-chul, 53, were detained according to the Chinese law on January 10 and 11 respectively and deported Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

The three were also banned from entering China again within five years.

A judicial investigation showed that Nam and Pak, after their entry into China, had instigated Falun Gong followers in China to sabotage local radio, television broadcast and telecommunications facilities and had plotted sabotage activities during the upcoming Spring Festival.

They also provided funds and foreign-made equipment for the sabotage plan as well as for other criminal activities of the Falun Gong cult, it said.

Ahn, who entered China recently along with Li Guangchun, 34, had released illicit publications and conducted other secret activities relating to the cult.

The three ROK nationals confessed to their illegal activities in China during the detention and judicial investigation, and were admonished by the Chinese judicial authorities, according to law before the deportation, sources said.

Li, whose identity is yet to be verified, remains under detention for further investigation, sources added.

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