Kim Jong Il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing on Wednesday.

Kim told Wang that the DPRK highly values friendship with China, stating that the bilateral relationship has been developing smoothly.

He said the DPRK is willing to work with China to increase communications and coordination and push forward the DPRK-China relations.

Both sides discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Wang said positive development has been made in six-party talks, calling for "full implementation" of the existing agreements on the issue.

He expressed the hope that all parties concerned should continue to take positive steps and fulfill their commitments to push forward the six-party talks and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim said the DPRK's stance toward fulfillment of commitment under the six-party talks remains unchanged, adding that the parties concerned should fulfill their commitment under the principle of "action for action."

Kim told Wang that the DPRK would cooperate with China to push forward the full implementation of agreements.

Wang arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a visit till Feb. 2.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)