Beijing - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday urged North Korea and other involved nations to resume the stalled dialogue aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme, state media said.

"How to overcome the current difficulties and realize the early resumption of the six-party talks is a subject that all parties are facing together," the semi-official China News Service quoted Hu as telling North Korean Premier Kim Yong Il.

"China is willing to make joint efforts with North Korea and other parties to push forward the six-party talks," Hu said.

North Korea, the United States, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan have taken part in several rounds of protracted talks aimed at negotiating an end to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme in return for energy aid and other concessions.

Kim conveyed greetings to Hu from North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong Il, and also met Wu Bangguo, the official number two in China's ruling Communist Party, the government's Xinhua news agency said.

Before the meetings, China's foreign ministry said it was concerned over the "complicated situation" on the Korean peninsula and urged all parties to "refrain from taking actions that may escalate tensions."

Kim Yong Il's five-day visit comes amid tension over Pyongyang's stated plan to launch a rocket carrying a satellite early next month.

It is his first trip to China since taking office in April 2007 and is timed to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency speculated that Hu might invite Kim Jong Il to visit China this year.

North Korea's announcement earlier this month that it plans to launch a communications satellite in early April has met with international concern that the launch is really a cover for a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

South Korea, the United States and Japan have all raised concerns about the North Korean plans. (dpa)