In the latest move, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan headed to the United States on Wednesday as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao. He arrived in Washington last night.

"Tang will discuss the Korean Peninsula situation with senior US officials," Liu said.

Tang will also pay a working visit to Russia. He was accompanied by Wu Dawei, vice-foreign minister and Chinese chief negotiator to the Six-Party Talks, and He Yafei, assistant foreign minister and expert on US affairs.

Liu said arrangements for a possible visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Beijing are also being worked out.

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