Visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard huddled with Chinese leaders yesterday, discussing the North Korean nuclear issue a week before diplomats from six nations gather in Beijing for a summit aimed at resolving the standoff.

　　"No country is more important than China. China has more influence on North Korea than any other country in the world, and China has played a wholly constructive and positive role," Howard said of the coming talks.

　　He told the press in Beijing that the nuclear issue is "real and serious" and all relevant countries are working very hard to achieve a guaranteed and peaceful outcome.

　　"We both oppose (North Korea) having nuclear capacity, we both want the issue resolved in a peaceful fashion, and we both support very strongly the six-party talks that will be held in Beijing," Howard said.

　　He said he spent "quite a bit of time" discussing North Korea with Premier Wen Jiabao in his first set of meetings with China's new generation of leaders. Later yesterday, Howard also met with President Hu Jintao, who accepted an invitation to visit Australia later this year.

　　Wen praised the "great attention" that Howard has paid to Australia's relationship with China.

　　"I hope that your visit to China will further facilitate and deepen the bilateral relationship."

　　Howard also discussed the strengthening of economic ties. "Our economic relationship is very deep," he said of the two countries.