China hinted Friday at a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korea's ceremonial leader Kim Yong-nam on the margins of a forum in Jakarta next week.

Asked about a possible bilateral meeting between Xi and Kim on the sidelines of the conference in Indonesia, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin replied, "Yes, on the sidelines of the Asia-African Conference and other commemorative events, President Xi will have some bilateral meetings."

Xi will arrive in Indonesia on Tuesday for a four-day visit and attend the gathering of regional leaders marking the 60th anniversary of the conference. The North's nominal head of state, Kim, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are also expected to attend the conference.

"As for the bilateral arrangements, our discussions are still going on," Liu said, adding that no bilateral meeting has been fixed.

"There won't be many bilateral meetings," Liu said.

Political ties between North Korea and China remain strained because of the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is expected to visit Moscow next month, has yet to visit China since taking power more than three years ago. Before visiting Indonesia, Xi will pay a two-day state visit to Pakistan starting Monday as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with its old ally.

Xi and Abe held their first but brief meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Beijing last November amid bitter rows over their shared history and territorial disputes.

South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Hwang Woo-yea plans to attend the conference in Indonesia. (Yonhap)