The agreement came during a two-day visit by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to Beijing.
In a further sign of cooling relations between China and North Korea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced his support for a new, tougher UN resolution on the secretive dictatorship.
US Secretary of State John Kerry says it's the right decision.
"And we look forward to working with China, which China agreed today to do, to engage in an accelerated effort at the United Nations, instructing both of our representatives to work together to try to achieve an understanding about the strong resolution that introduces significant new measures to curtail North Korea's ability to advance its prescribed nuclear ballistic missile programs."
China has long been a close ally of North Korea, but joined international condemnation following North Korea's announcement of a successful test of a miniaturised hydrogen bomb on January the 6th.
Although the truthfulness of the claim remains under question, the move sparked renewed fears over North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi describes the decision as one of necessity.
"We also agreed for the UN Security Council to take further action and pass a new resolution. China is willing to, on the basis of necessity, conduct comprehensive and in-depth negotiations with the US and all sides with a responsible attitude. In the meantime, we must point out that the new resolution is not aiming to provoke tensions and destabilise the (Korean) peninsula, but is aiming to bring the nuclear issue on the peninsula back to the right path, which is dialogue."
Also on the agenda is the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea, with Mr Kerry saying he's confident a solution can be found.
"And the second issue, of course, is activities in the South China Sea, which we've talked about before, we obviously will talk about today. We have proven, as you said, when our two countries find the common ground and work together, we can make things happen."
China has laid claim to nearly the whole region, a valuable shipping and trade area and a potential site of huge reserves of oil and gas.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of it.
China's Wang Yi says while China continues to assert its rights in the area, it has no desire to engage in any kind of warfare.
"The islands of the South China Sea have always been China's territory since ancient times. China has the right to protect its sovereign territory and its legitimate maritime rights. In the meantime, China is resolutely committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of the South China Sea, and will continue to manage disagreements through dialogue, peacefully solving disputes through negotiation and communication."
It comes as Taiwan's Ministry of Defense spokesman, David Lo, announced outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou was preparing to travel to the Taiwanese-claimed island of Itu Aba, known in Taiwan as Taiping Island, in the Spratly archipelago.
"All circles know that Itu Aba is the inherent territory of the Republic of China, so the president's heading towards Itu Aba to visit the island and soldiers there is very reasonable. The Office of the President has also previously said that the president does not exclude the possibility of going to Itu Aba. I think going to Itu Aba often depends on weather conditions, and seeing as the Office of the President had said that the president might head towards Itu Aba tomorrow, this means the president will go if weather allows. I think if weather permits, the visit will go smoothly."
The move is viewed as antagonistic by both China and the US, despite Mr Ma's good relationship with China.
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