(Xinhua)
BEIJING - Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, held talks in Beijing with Kim Jong-il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from May 3 to 7 as Hu's guest.
During their talks, Hu expressed warm welcome to Kim on behalf of the CPC, Chinese government and people.
Hu also expressed gratitude for the condolence from the DPRK to earthquake-hit Yushu in northwest China, as well as the DPRK's active participation in the World Expo in Shanghai.
During Kim's stay in Beijing, Hu hosted a welcoming banquet in honor of Kim and accompanied Kim in a visit to a biological company.
Wu Bangguo, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Wen Jiabao, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese premier, met with Kim respectively.
Other members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, respectively accompanied Kim for the visiting tour.
Hu said the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK is the common treasures of the two governments, parties and peoples, and it is the historical responsibility of the two sides to push forward their friendship with the progress of the times and from generation to generation.
He said in recent years, Sino-DPRK relations have made continuous achievements, and last year in particular, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of Sino-DPRK diplomatic ties and successfully held the Year of Friendship, and the political contacts and cooperation in all areas have been fruitful.
Strengthening Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations is the consistent policy of the Chinese party and government, he said.
Hu said China always handles, maintains and pushes forward the relations with the DPRK in a strategic and long-term perspective, and will make joint efforts with the DPRK to upgrade the relationship to benefit the two peoples and to contribute to lasting regional peace and common prosperity.
Hu said boosting Sino-DPRK cooperation helps the two countries promote their own socialist construction, and safeguard and develop the common interests as well as regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Hu put forward five proposals to strengthen ties with the DPRK:
--To maintain high-level contacts. The leaders of the two countries should keep in touch by exchanging visits, as well as sending special envoys and messages.
--To reinforce strategic coordination. The two sides should exchange views in a timely manner and regularly on major domestic and diplomatic issues, international and regional situation, as well as on governance experience.
--To deepen economic and trade cooperation. The relevant departments of the two governments should discuss and explore ways on expanding economic and trade cooperation.
--To increase personnel exchanges. The two sides should expand exchanges in the cultural, sports, and educational fields, and the contacts between the youth in particular to inherit the traditional friendship from generation to generation.
--To strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs to better serve regional peace and stability.
Kim said he fully agrees with Hu's proposals on pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.
The traditional DPRK-China friendship, established and cultivated by leaders of old generations of the two states, has stood tests of the times, and will not change due to the change of time and alteration of generations, Kim said.
The series of celebration activities marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties last year lifted the DPRK-China friendship to a new high in history, he said.
With the joint efforts from the two sides, sound momentum of development has emerged in bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Kim said, noting the recent agreement on the construction of a new bridge over the border river, the Yalu River, will become a new symbol of DPRK-China friendly cooperation.
With the principle of mutual benefit and win-win, the DPRK side welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and will actively lift the level and quality of bilateral pragmatic cooperation, Kim said.
The DPRK Party and government always view and handle relations with China from a strategic and long-term point of view, and are determined to inherit and pass on the DPRK-China relations, which have seen continuous consolidation and development, he said.
Kim expressed his warm congratulations on the successful opening of the World Expo in Shanghai and his condolence to the casualty and property loss caused by the earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province.
During each of his visits to China, Kim said, he could witness the new achievements made by Chinese people in the grand cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
China's achievements are a great encouragement to the people of the DPRK, he said.
DPRK's work in various fields is progressing orderly, and the core task of all the work of the DPRK party is to constantly improve the living standard of the people, Kim said.
Hu spoke highly of DPRK's active measures which have been taken to preserve stability, boost economy and improve people's living conditions. He also expressed his wishes for the DPRK to achieve greater goals in the nation's development under the leadership of the WPK, headed by Kim.
Kim said he believes that under the leadership of the CPC, with President Hu as general secretary, Chinese people will continuously record new victories in the historical progress of improving the party's ruling capability, practicing the scientific concept on development and building a harmonious society.
Kim invited Hu to visit DPRK at his convenience. Hu appreciated and accepted the invitation.
Hu also accompanied Kim in a visit to a bio-company in Beijing. During the visit, Kim said he got new understandings of China's development and progress in relevant fields, especially in harmonious development and innovation, compared with the last visit to China four years ago.
The DPRK people are proud of China's achievements in its national development, he said.
Senior Chinese officials Wang Qishan, Liu Qi, Guo Boxiong, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the relevant activities.
Kim's entourage included Kim Yong Chun, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, and senior officials with the DPRK's foreign ministry, the WPK Central Committee and the DRPK cabinet.
China Daily
