Address each other's 'concerns': China to US, North Korea

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping told North Korea's foreign minister Friday that he hoped Pyongyang and Washington will address each other's concerns so peace talks on the Korean peninsula "continue to make positive progress".

Xi met with Ri Yong Ho in Beijing as denuclearisation talks have made little progress since a historic June summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Xi "hopes that both North Korea and the United States can come together, and will take care of each other's legitimate concerns so that the process of peace talks on the Korean peninsula continue to make positive progress," according to the official Xinhua news agency.

China is a key player in the diplomatic shuffle as it is North Korea's main diplomatic ally and trade partner.

"The international and regional situation as well as the situation on the Korean peninsula remains in flux, so timely exchanges and the coordination of positions between China and North Korea are still extremely essential," said Xi.

For his part, Ri said North Korea "remains committed to the denuclearisation of the peninsula," according to

Xinhua.