Wu Bangguo, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met in Beijing with Kim Jong-il, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a spokesman with the International Department of the CPC Central Committee said Wednesday.

Wu said he is glad to meet with Kim again after they met in the DPRK half a year ago. He said that during his DPRK visit last October, he felt the two countries' deep traditional friendship and witnessed the touching scene of the DPRK people's hard-working and unity under Kim's leadership.

He expressed his belief that the DPRK side will continue to make new progress in exploring a development path which suits its own conditions.

Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from April 19 to 21 at the invitation of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)