Trump sees 'solution' to N. Korea crisis in talks with Xi

US President Donald Trump said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping believe the North Korean crisis can be solved as the two men held talks in Beijing on Thursday.

Trump made his remarks as the two leaders met in Beijing's Great Hall of the People for talks focused on North Korea's nuclear threats and China's huge trade surplus with the United States.

"Our meeting this morning... was excellent in discussing North Korea and I do believe there's a solution to that, as you do," Trump said as he sat across from Xi. 

He did not elaborate but Trump is likely to press Xi to further restrict trade between China and North Korea, whose economic well-being depends on its commerce with the world's second largest economy.

Xi, who has repeatedly urged the United States and North Korea to hold negotiations to resolve the crisis peacefully, told Trump that their nations should "strengthen communication and coordination in major international and regional issues including the Korean Peninsula and Afghanistan".

On trade, Trump said previous US administrations had let the trade imbalance get "out of kilter".

"We will make it fair and it will be tremendous for both of us," Trump said.

The US leader heaped more praise on Xi, whom he first met at his Florida resort in April.

"My feeling toward you is an incredible warm one. As we said there's great chemistry and I think we're going to do tremendous things for both China and the United States."

Xi, who spoke first, told Trump: "For China and the United States, cooperation is the only correct choice and only a win-win (situation) can lead to a better future."

"At present, the Sino-US relations are at a new historical starting point. China is willing to work with the United States to respect each other, offer mutual benefits, focus on cooperation, manage and control differences."

Source: AFP