The U.S. special envoy on North Korea arrived in China Tuesday on the first stop of a three-nation tour to Northeast Asia.

Stephen Bosworth spent Tuesday night meeting with China’s top nuclear negotiator, Wu Dawei. On Wednesday, Bosworth will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to discuss the apparent preparations North Korea is making to launch a missile and ways to resume the stalled six-way nuclear talks.

During his meeting with Wu, Bosworth reportedly received a message from the North conveying its hope to revive the nuclear negotiations.

A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry said China and the U.S. held extensive discussions on issues of mutual concern and vowed to work together toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

A highly anticipated meeting between Bosworth and North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-kwan did not take place, however, as Kim ended up canceling his plans to visit Beijing.

Diplomatic sources in China say the North is likely to seek a meeting with the U.S. shortly after it conducts a missile launch some time in the middle of this month.

Bosworth, who is accompanied by chief U.S. envoy to the six-party nuclear talks Sung Kim, will visit Japan on Thursday before flying to Seoul on Saturday.