"The two sides discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said after Hu and Roh met ahead of the annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

"Hu Jintao pointed out that recent six-party talks have seen some positive progress. The various parties have reached important consensus in a series of areas," Liu said.

"Hu expressed the hope that the various parties would step up communication and cooperation ... to bring about a Korean peninsula that will enjoy peace, security and stability for the long term."

China is the host of the six-party talks, which began in 2003 and also involve the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia.

In a landmark six-nation deal brokered in February, North Korea agreed to dismantle all of its nuclear facilities and programmes in exchange for diplomatic concessions and energy and other aid.

Hu and Roh also agreed to expedite bilateral talks on a Korean peninsula peace agreement, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

"Roh and Hu agreed to begin full discussions on a Korean Peninsula peace treaty after inter-Korean relations further improve and the six-party denuclearisation talks show more progress," Baek Jong-chun, chief presidential secretary for security and foreign policy was quoted as saying.

Korea is technically still at war, since the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice but not a peace treaty.

The Korean War pitted a US-led alliance against troops from China and North Korea.

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