In remarks at the end of the Beijing talks, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo said ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula is "critical" and urged the parties to "calmly and properly handle the issue and avoid escalation of tension."

VOA: standard.2010.05.25

Rice also spoke to Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, who met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang Thursday.

NPR: Rice Confident China Is Serious About N. Korea

Kerry and the Chinese foreign policy chief, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, said the two nations would work together to create a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, effectively forcing North Korea to give up its arsenal.

NPR: Goal Of Nuclear-Free NKorea Tests US, China Ties