The US Secretary of State Colin Powell is reported to have left Beijing without securing Chinese support for a new UN resolution to compel Iraq todisarm.
He also failed to win Chinese backing for the US approach on North Korea.
Mr Powell arrived in Beijing last night and met ChinesePresident Jiang Zemin, Vice President Hu Jintao and Foreign MinisterTang Jiaxuan this morning.
He is on a three-nation Asia tour, which also took him toJapan.
He has now arrived in South Korea to attend the inauguration of President-elect Roh Moo-hyun and hold talks with the new leader on North Korea's suspected nuclear ambitions.
Mr Roh, who is sworn in as president tomorrow, is the first Seoul leader without a strong pro-US orientation or clear memories of the US role in the 1950-53 Korean War.
Mr Roh says the strategic partnership with Washington is crucial but, unlike US President George W. Bush, has said he would rule out the option of using military force to curb North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons programme.
AFP