Senior officials from China and the US will meet on Wednesday to discuss North Korea’s military ambitions, amid concern that the rogue state is preparing a sixth nuclear test.

The US is seeking to ramp up pressure on Beijing to help rein in its wayward neighbour at the meeting in Washington where Pyongyang’s missile programme is likely to top the agenda.

However, China is keen to broaden out the discussions and gain concessions on a string of contentious issues, including the deployment of US missiles in South Korea and Washington’s relationship with Taiwan.

Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, and Jim Mattis, the Secretary of Defence, will host Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, and General Fang Fenghui, chief of General Staff of the Chinese military, at the first Diplomatic and Security Dialogue summit.

The talks were established by Mr Trump and Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, in April.