PYONGYANG, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Monday that he was happy with the healthy development of DPRK-China relations.
The ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was "very satisfied" with the healthy development of bilateral relations under the current complicated international situation, Kim told Zhou Yongkang, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Kim said during his two visits to China this year, he and Chinese President Hu Jintao reached a series of important consensus on the crucial issues concerning the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as other issues of mutual concern.
The top DPRK leader said he has asked his country's leadership not only to attach great importance to the consensus, but also implement it in their work.
Kim said the two countries should keep the tradition of exchanging high-level visits, adding that he and other members of the DPRK leadership were willing to visit China from time to time. He invited Hu to visit his country again.
The DPRK top leader called on the two sides to further strengthen communication and coordination on strategic issues, and continuously expand the scope of bilateral economic cooperation while upgrading such cooperation to higher levels.
The DPRK-China cooperation should not only become a model for political mutual trust between different countries, but also serve as an example for economic cooperation and mutual benefit between countries, he added.
Kim also told his Chinese guest that the WPK leadership has laid emphasis on the education of DPRK's youth about the traditional friendship between the two countries. He has asked them to conduct more exchanges with their Chinese colleagues and sincerely learn from China's experience.
He also congratulated China for successfully mitigating the impacts of the global financial crisis and major natural disasters while maintaining steady and quick economic growth. He also wished the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee a success.
The top DPRK leader asked Zhou to convey his greetings to the Chinese president and extended warm welcome to Zhou and other members of the visiting CPC delegation.
He told the Chinese guest that the current situation in the DPRK was very good and the WPK had recently held a very successful conference, at which a number of young and energetic officials were absorbed into the WPK leadership and the party's leading body has been strengthened.
For his part, Zhou, member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said this year saw landmark events in the history of relations between China and the DPRK.
Zhou said the top DPRK leader paid two visits to China in less than four months and exchanged views and reached consensus with the Chinese president on issues of common concern, which effectively boosted the deepening and development of relations of the two countries and parties.
The fact that the two top leaders spoke to each other heart to heart fully proved that China and the DPRK were intimate comrades and true friends, said Zhou, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission of Political and Legal Affairs.
The Chinese party and government were willing to safeguard and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries together with the DPRK and to make unremitting efforts to maintain regional peace and stability and realize common development, he said.
China was in a pivotal period of building a well-off society in an all-round way and also in an important period of deepening reform and opening-up and accelerating the transformation of economic development pattern, Zhou said.
The 17th Central Committee of the CPC was preparing for its fifth plenary session during which it would discuss the formulation of China's 12th five-year plan (2011-2015), Zhou said.
China was ready to learn from the DPRK and make progress together with Pyongyang in building socialism and pushing forward the Sino-DPRK friendship for generations to come, he added.
Zhou said he was honored to lead a CPC delegation to visit the DPRK and celebrate the 65th anniversary of the WPK together with the DPRK people.
The fact that during his three-day stay he met the top DPRK leader four times fully demonstrated that the WPK and the DPRK government paid high attention to their relations with China, Zhou stressed.
On behalf of the CPC, Zhou congratulated the WPK for its successful holding of a series of activities to mark its 65th anniversary.
Zhou said his visit was one full of happiness and friendship.
"We rejoice at the achievements the WPK made in revolution and construction since its establishment 65 years ago; we rejoice at the successful holding of a WPK conference and reelection of Kim Jong Il to the supreme post of the party; we rejoice at the kind and friendly reception we received during our visit," he said.
Zhou also conveyed the invitation of Chinese President Hu to Kim and the new DPRK leadership to visit China.