BEIJING, April 18. /TASS/. Beijing views North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s upcoming visit in Russia due in late April as a very important event, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui told reporters on Thursday.

"The North Korean leader’s upcoming visit to Russia is a very important event," he said. "Russia has a positive impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. It made a substantial contribution to maintaining peace and stability and resolving the Korean nuclear issue."

The high-ranking diplomat recalled that Moscow and Beijing maintained close contacts on the Korean settlement. "We always work together, we have a common stance and common interests," he pointed out.

The Kremlin press service earlier reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would meet in Russia before the end of this month. According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the summit is likely to be held in Vladivostok.