North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks in China with President Xi Jinping, state media from both countries reported on Tuesday. The officials held talks on Monday and Tuesday in the coastal city of Dalian as part of a flurry of diplomatic engagement that has eased tensions on the Korean peninsula. This marks the second times in two months that Kim and Xi meet in China. This week’s talks come ahead of what would be a historic meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump that the White House has said could take place as soon as this month. China has been keen to show it has an indispensable role in seeking a lasting solution to tension over North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, concerned that its interests may be ignored, especially as North Korea and the United States establish contacts. During the visit, announced only after it was over, Kim told Xi he hoped relevant parties would take “phased” and “synchronized” measures to realize denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. “So long as relevant parties eliminate hostile policies and security threats towards North Korea, North Korea has no need for nuclear (capacity), and denuclearization can be realized,” China’s official Xinhua news agency cited Kim as saying. Kim told Xi that the denuclearization of the peninsula was North Korea’s “constant and clear position”, and that dialogue between North Korea and the United States could build mutual trust. Kim was accompanied by his sister, Kim Yo Jong, who has played a leading role in recent outreach by the long-isolated regime. Chinese state media showed pictures of Kim smiling in an outdoors meeting with Xi, and the two leaders strolling along a waterfront. Xi hosted a banquet and told Kim of his backing of North Korea’s “strategic shift towards economic development”, Xinhua added. “China supports North Korea’s upholding of denuclearization on the peninsula and supports North Korea and the United States resolving the peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation,” Xi said. North Korean state media said Kim was “very pleased” that the relationship with China was reaching a high point, and North Korea would cooperate with China more actively as the situation on the Korean peninsula changed. The two leaders “opened their hearts and had warm conversations,” North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported. The meeting was the latest in a series by North Korean leaders that has dramatically eased tension on the Korean peninsula, and follows Kim’s recent historic summit with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in. It also followed Kim’s dramatic train journey to Beijing in March, his first known trip abroad since assuming power in 2011. Later on Tuesday, Trump and Xi agreed in a phone call that it was important to continue sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs until it permanently dismantles them, the White House said. Xi also urged Trump to take Pyongyangs "reasonable security concerns" into consideration. Trump also affirmed his commitment to ensuring the US trade and investment relationship with China was "balanced and benefits American businesses and workers," the White House said in a statement. Xi told Trump that China and the US should "strive" to find a solution to their trade spat, according to state broadcaster CCTV.