Beijing ( CNN ) -- Chinese and Japanese leaders held talks Monday to discuss peace and stability on the Korean peninsula following the recent death of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il , a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said . Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday , wrapping up his trip to Beijing to discuss cooperation between the two countries . `` The two sides believe that maintaining peace and stability of the Korean peninsula serves the common interests of all parties , '' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters Monday . `` The two sides are ready to make concerted efforts to realize peace and stability of the Korean peninsula . '' During Noda 's visit , discussions over the stability of the Korean peninsula overshadowed traditionally controversial issues between the countries -- including issues of disputed islands and energy disagreements in the East China Sea . Both sides also signed energy conservation and environmental protection agreements , along with an announcement that the two sides will use their own currencies in bilateral trade rather than U.S. dollars in an effort to encourage economic cooperation . Noda , in his first visit to Beijing since taking power in September , is the first foreign leader to visit with China 's leaders since Kim 's death . Both sides touched on the importance of resuming the six-party North Korean nuclear talks in an effort to promote the long-term stability of the region , according to China 's state-run Xinhua news agency . Kim 's death was announced by Pyongyang on December 19 and has put the region on edge , as the world waits to see how North Korea 's succession will play out . In an effort to improve North and South relations , an 18-member civilian delegation of South Korean citizens arrived in Pyongyang on Monday to express condolences after the death of the Kim , North Korea 's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported .
Trade between the Koreas ` ` serves the common interest of all parties , '' an official says . Yoshihiko Noda visits Beijing for the first time as Japanese prime minister . China and Japan also signed energy and environmental agreements . Both countries will also use their own currency -- not the U.S. dollar -- in bilateral trade .