BEIJING, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - The Chinese president's envoy met with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang Thursday, a senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official said.

"The parties discussed bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Liu Jianchao said.

He said China's State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan handed the Chinese leader's message to Kim Jong-il.

The state councilor flew to Pyongyang Wednesday amid growing international concerns over North Korea's reported nuclear bomb test October 9 and fears that the Communist regime could conduct more tests in the future, triggering a nuclear arms race in the region.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution Saturday imposing limited financial and arms sanctions against the North. And U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is currently on a tour of Asian nations to assure them of America's commitment to their defense against the North Korean threat and to make sure they will fulfill the resolution.

Speaking at a news briefing, Jianchao did not confirm Japanese media reports that the foreign ministers of China, Russia, Japan, the United States, and South Korea, which have been engaged in nuclear talks with North Korea since 2003, plan to meet in Beijing Friday to discuss the crisis.

"I know nothing about it," the diplomat said, adding that China is doing its utmost to resume the six-nation talks, which have been stalled since November 2005.

He said that Rice will arrive in China, the staunchest ally and a major provider of aid to impoverished North Korea, Friday. Rice is also expected in Moscow Saturday.

Pyongyang, which called the resolution a declaration of war, has said it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself from American aggression.