Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, also a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, 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.  

Wen reviewed the two countries' friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at different levels since they forged diplomatic ties 55 years ago, and exchanged views with Kim on further developing bilateral friendship and cooperation, especially economic and trade cooperation.

He said the Chinese side will actively encourage its enterprises to conduct mutually-beneficial cooperation in various forms with the DPRK side. He also briefed Kim on China's current economic development.

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)