South Korea's top diplomat will visit China early next week, the two countries said Friday, ahead of an expected trilateral summit in which Japan is also slated to take part.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will visit Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, China's foreign ministry said in a statement.
It is the first visit by a South Korean foreign minister to Beijing in over six years.
Seoul's Yonhap News Agency, citing the foreign ministry, said Cho would meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
The visit comes ahead of an expected summit between the three countries, which Yonhap said was expected at the end of the month.
Cho and Wang will discuss "issues of common interest, from bilateral relations, the trilateral summit and the Korean Peninsula, to regional and global issues", the agency quoted the ministry as saying.
Beijing is Seoul's largest trading partner, but is also North Korea's main ally and economic benefactor.
