BEIJING-- China's foreign ministry on Wednesday confirmed that a senior U.S. diplomat will make a two-day visit to Beijing late next week, indicating that the topics would include the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula.

   Daniel Russel, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, will make a 10-day visit to five nations in Asia from Thursday. His itinerary includes South Korea, Japan and China.

   Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters that Russel will pay a "working visit" to China on Sept. 13-14.

   Russel and Chinese officials "will exchange views on China-U.S. relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest," Hong told reporters during a regular press briefing.

   In Seoul, Russel and his South Korean counterparts will discuss a wide range of issues, including North Korea, the U.S. State Department said in a statement released on Tuesday.  It would mark his first trip to the region since taking office in July. (Yonhap News)