"We are willing to make common efforts with all sides to deal with the issue calmly and to act cautiously to prevent the situation from deteriorating or losing control," Hu told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Hu reiterated China's consistent position that the crisis could only be resolved through diplomacy, and that it was essential that stalled six-nation talks aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions quickly resume.
"We must actively create conditions and strive to restart the six-party talks as soon as possible," Hu said, with footage of his comments to Rice carried on the state-run China Central Television.
Hu also reiterated that China "strongly opposed" North Korea's nuclear test that was carried out on October 9, and that his nation endorsed the UN Security Council's subsequent resolution against Pyongyang.
Aside from Hu, Rice on Friday met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Tang Jiaxuan, the Chinese envoy who held direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang a day earlier.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2006