Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Thursday China expects a "successful" visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, starting this weekend.

"We will discuss Sino-US ties and their consultations and cooperation in international and regional affairs," Liu told a regular press conference.

Chinese leaders and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing are due to meet with Rice, who will pay a two-day visit to China starting on March 20. It will be her first China visit since she became the top US diplomat in January. She has visited China twice since 2002.

Rice kicked off her six-nation Asian tour Monday. These countries include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China.

Analysts believed that she would hold consultations with leaders of China, Japan and ROK on the resumption of six-party talks on Korean Peninsular nuclear issue. During her tour, her discussions would also focus on promoting the postwar Afghan rebuilding and encouraging India and Pakistan to further improve bilateral relations.

The six-party talks, involving China, DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, began in August 2003. Three rounds of talks have been held in Beijing.

Pyongyang said it was "compelled" to pause participating in the fourth round scheduled for last September, citing "hostile US policy."