The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s leader Kim Jong-il on Wednesday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Pyongyang.  

Kim, general secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, said the DPRK-China friendship has been fostered by older generation of leaders of the two countries and forged by common struggles and cooperation.

Kim also noted that the WPK Party and the DPRK government highly prize this traditional friendship and will continue to push it forward.

Li said the China-DPRK friendship has taken root in the hearts of the peoples of the two countries and further developing the friendly ties and bilateral cooperation is the unwavering policy of the Chinese government.

Li stressed that China will make every effort to bring the bilateral ties to a new level.

Li began his official visit to the DPRK on Tuesday and will conclude the visit on Thursday. He also held talks with his DPRK counterpart Paek Nam-sun on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2004)