Trump meets most powerful leader in Beijing, urges Xi Jinping to act fast on N Korea

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping participate in a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Photo: AP)

Donald Trump is on a five country trip through Asia travelling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (Photo: AP)

On Trump's first state visit to China, a military band played the US and Chinese anthems, ceremonial cannon fire erupted, and the two leaders reviewed a military honour guard just across from Tiananmen Square. (Photo: AP)

Both leaders say they have struck up a friendship since Trump hosted Xi for a plush visit at the billionaire's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for their first meeting in April. (Photo: AP)

Despite the public bonhomie, the two leaders were expected to have had tough discussions behind closed doors. (Photo: AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Donald Trump urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work 'hard' and act fast to help resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, during their meeting in Beijing. (Photo: A

China and US announced more than $250 billion in business deals ranging from billions in Chinese soybean and aircraft imports to major projects like the development and export of liquified natural gas from Alaska. (Photo: AP)

The Trump administration has aggressively pursued trade remedies in commercial relations with Beijing -- investigating Chinese trade practices on intellectual property and in aluminium and steel. (Photo: AP)

While the two leaders have recently stepped up the flattery, Trump made clear to Xi that he expected China to do more to rein in North Korea."We must act fast. And hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone," Trump said. (Photo: AP)