BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks last Friday with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il in Changchun, capital city of northeast China' s Jilin Province.

Kim, general secretary of the Worker' s Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, paid an unofficial visit to China from August 26 to 30 at the invitation of Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu said that at present, China and the DPRK are increasing vigorous exchange and cooperation in various fields, among various departments and between provinces along the borders. The two sides have maintained close communication and coordination on issues of the Korean Peninsula and the region.

Hu said China is ready to work with the DPRK to carefully safeguard and develop friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

During the talks, Hu put forward three proposals for further strengthening relations between the CPC and the WPK and between the two countries.

Firstly, the two sides should maintain high-level contact, which is of great significance to continuously pushing forward the development of the China-DPRK links. Leaders of the two sides should continue to maintain regular communication in various forms.

Secondly, the two sides should advance trade and economic cooperation. Expanding and deepening mutually beneficial and win-win trade and economic cooperation is in the basic interests of the two peoples. ?China is ready to grow trade and economic cooperation on the principles of government guidance with enterprises playing a major role, ?market operation, and mutual benefits for win-win results.

Thirdly, the two sides should strengthen strategic communication. Since the regional and international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes, prompt, thorough and in-depth communication between China and the DPRK on major issues is of critical importance to effectively maintaining peace and stability in the Northeast Asia region and to promoting common development.

Kim said he fully agrees with Hu' s comment and proposals on advancing the relations between the WPK and CPC and between the two countries. Kim said the northeastern part of China is the place where DPRK-China friendship began. He said through this visit, the DPRK side had yet another in-depth experience of the preciousness of the DPRK-China friendship created by older generations of revolutionaries from both countries.

Kim said at present, the two sides should strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields, among various departments and between the provinces along the borders. He said the two sides should also attach importance to exchange and mutual learning of their young people so as to continuously push forward the development of ?traditional DPRK-China friendship.

During the talks, Hu and Kim briefed each other on the internal situation and development plan of their respective countries. Hu hailed the achievements the DPRK people have made in economic development. He expressed his hope that the upcoming national plenary session of the WPK will be a success.

Hu emphasized that it is a basic experience of China' s reform and opening up drive in the past more than three decades to unswervingly adhere to the central task of economic development, push forward all causes of socialist modernization in an all-round way and continuously secure and improve the livelihood of the people.
Hu said economic development calls for self-dependence but cannot be achieved without cooperating with the outside world. This is the inevitable path of the times that accelerates the development of a country.

Hu said the Chinese side respects and supports the active measures the DPRK side has taken to maintain stability, develop its economy and improve the livelihood of its people.

Kim said China has rapidly developed with strong vitality in all fields since it began to reform and open up to the outside world. Kim said, as a witness of this historic process, he believes it proves the correctness of the guidelines and policies the CPC and the Chinese government adopted to reinvigorate China's traditional industrial zones, such as the northeastern area, develop its western areas, realize balanced growth of different parts of the country and build a harmonious socialist society.

Kim expressed belief that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will complete the goals of the 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), smoothly embark on implementing the 12th five-year plan (2011-2015) and celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC with great achievements.

Kim said the DPRK is now focusing on developing its economy and improving its people' s livelihood. He expressed his wish to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China.

The visit was the second Kim has made to China this year, after he visited Beijing in May.

Hu warmly welcomed Kim on his second visit. Hu thanked the DPRK for sending a message of condolence to China after a devastating mudslide hit Zhouqu County in northwestern Gansu Province earlier this month. Hu expressed heartfelt condolences to the DPRK for the floods that hit some areas of the country.

Kim thanked Hu for his invitation and warm welcome.

During his China trip, Kim visited Jilin City and Changchun City in Jilin Province and Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province. Kim visited enterprises of machinery manufacturing, railway transportation, chemical industry and food processing, as well as some agricultural projects. He said Jilin was a place where he once lived, and he was greatly touched and impressed to see its many changes and development when he came back this time.

Kim said China' s northeast region borders the DPRK and has a similar landscape and industrial structure to his country. The DPRK hopes to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China' s northeast and learn from China' s experience, he said.

Kim was accompanied by a number of officials in his visit to China, including Kim Yong Chun, Kim Gi Nam, Kang Sok Ju, Jang Song Thaek, Hong Sok Sop, Kim Yong Il and Kim Yang Gon.