"The North Korean nuclear threat is about as real and serious a threat as we could have anywhere in either the region or the world. That's the sobering message," he said after meeting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

"We spent quite a bit of time discussing North Korea.

"The hopeful message is that all relevant countries are working very hard to achieve a stable guaranteed peaceful outcome, one that also guarantees that North Korea doesn't have a nuclear capacity.

"And no other country is more important than China."

His message coincided with Pyongyang repeating its warnings that it would not dismantle its nuclear arsenal unless the United States offers assurances that it will drastically change its policy toward the North.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency again demanded a non-aggression pact and diplomatic normalization between the two sides at six-party talks starting in Beijing on August 27.

Howard, who said Australia and China's goal regarding North Korea were virtually identical, has offered to provide experts and help in any verification program concerning its weapons programs.

It has also been outspoken on the need for Beijing, the North's closest ally and main supplier of its food and oil imports, to take an active role on persuading Pyongyang to abandon its suspected smuggling of illegal drugs and weapons of mass destruction.

Howard is on his fourth visit to China and his first since new leadership headed by President Hu Jintao took over the running of the world's most populous nation earlier this year.

He is also scheduled to meet Hu and military strongman Jiang Zemin.

Despite hosting US deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage last week, Howard said on his arrival Sunday that he was carrying no message from the US administration.

"I'm not carrying any messages for anybody except messages from the Australian people and messages from my own government," he told reporters.

"We have a full-blown, very mature, very constructive relationship with China."

Howard is a key ally of US President George W. Bush and praised the way Beijing and Washington have worked together to facilitate the nuclear talks as "a very positive thing and played a very major role in the management of what is a very difficult issue".

The Australian premier is primarily in China to become acquainted with the new leadership after cultivating a prosperous relationship with Beijing since taking office in 1996 and was careful not to upset the momentum.

Human rights were discussed but not dwelt on.

"Yes it was discussed, both of us expressed satisfaction with the human rights dialogue," he said.

Australia in 1997 became the first country to engage China in bilateral dialogue on human rights.

Since the two countries forged diplomatic realtions 31 years ago, China has become Australia's third largest trading partner and fourth largest export market, with two-way trade worth 23 billion dollars (15 billion US) in 2002.

During talks Monday both sides agreed to hold official-level discussions in Canberra and Beijing in September and October on a framework economic and trade agreement that would include talks on a possible bilateral free trade pact.

WAR.WIRE