BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that China hopes inter-governmental talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will be held smoothly and achieve positive progress.

According to a joint press release unveiled after working-level contact between the ROK and the DPRK on Thursday, both sides agreed to hold the inter-governmental talks on Dec. 11 at the Kaesong industrial complex.

"China welcomes the agreement reached by the two sides, and expects the inter-governmental talks will be held smoothly and make positive progress," spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing.

The vice ministerial talks will cover issues on improving the DPRK-ROK relations, according to the press release.

The latest ministerial-level talks between the two sides were held in Pyongyang from Feb. 27 to March 2 in 2007 and in Seoul from May 29 to June 1 in the same year.