U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met China's top leaders on Saturday, April 13 in a bid to persuade them to exert pressure on North Korea to scale back its belligerent rhetoric and, eventually, return to nuclear talks, Reuters reported.

“This is obviously a critical time with some very challenging issues - issues on the Korean peninsula, the challenge of Iran and nuclear weapons, Syria and the Middle East, and economies around the world that are in need of a boost,” Kerry told Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

Kerry said after the meeting that his talks with Xi were "constructive and forward-leaning", though he did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told visiting Kerry on Saturday that rising tensions on the Korean peninsula were in nobody's interests.

"All sides must bear responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability and be responsible for the consequences," the state television quoted Li as saying.