Kim Jong Un strolls along seaside with President Xi Jinping in China

PRESIDENT Xi Jinping has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in northern China, the country has said.

The summit was held in the port city of Dalian on Monday and Tuesday, just weeks after the two took part in historic talks in Beijing

According to China’s official Xinhua agency, Mr Kim and Mr Xi discussed bilateral issues, and the Chinese leader told Mr Kim of his support of talks between North Korea and the United States.

Mr Kim told Mr Xi he hoped relevant parties would take “phased” and “synchronised” measures to realise denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.

It’s understood Mr Xi hosted a banquet and state broadcaster CCTV showed Mr Xi and Mr Kim taking a seaside stroll.

According to Xinhua, Mr Xi said: “After the first meeting between me and Comrade Chairman (Kim), both China-DPRK relations and the Korean peninsula situation have made positive progress. I feel happy about it.”

Mr Kim is quoted as saying: “These are the positive outcomes of the historic meeting between me and Comrade General Secretary (Xi).”

North Korea state media said Mr Kim had told Mr Xi to continue their close relationship.

He also praised their high-level exchanges and said he was “very pleased” their relationship is reaching a high point.

Xinhua called the meeting “cordial and friendly” and said the two strolled by the sea at a government guesthouse before having lunch together on Tuesday.

The agency added Mr Kim told Mr Xi he had come to inform him about the rapidly changing regional situation.

CCTV quoted Mr Xi as saying China “supports North Korea to stick to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and supports North Korea and the U.S. in solving the peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation”.

Donald Trump tweeted he would be speaking to Mr Xi at 8.30am, which was 12.30 GMT.

He said: “I will be speaking to my friend, President Xi of China, this morning at 8:30. The primary topics will be Trade, where good things will happen, and North Korea, where relationships and trust are building.”

A summit is planned between Mr Trump and Mr Kim, but no date has been confirmed.

China is North Korea’s only major ally but trade has plummeted in recent months because Beijing is enforcing UN economic sanctions, following ballistics missile tests in North Korea.

The unannounced meeting is Mr Kim’s second to China since March, and suggesting China does not want to be left outside while North Korea holds historic summits with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-In.