South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday thanked China, during a summit meeting with President Xi Jinping, for help in defusing recent tension with North Korea that had pushed the neighbours to the brink of an armed conflict, Reuters reported.

The rivals averted a full-on military confrontation by reaching an agreement last week to improve ties following a rare exchange of artillery fire over their heavily fortified border.

Park began a three-day trip to China to attend its commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Asia, and is scheduled to attend its massive military parade on Thursday.

Park's sixth summit meeting with Xi highlighted the rapidly growing ties between the Asian neighbours, even as Beijing has grown increasingly frustrated with North Korea.

Source: SPA