The head of the delegation conveyed the regards of General Secretary Kim Jong Il to Hu Jintao.

Hu expressed deep thanks for this and asked the head of the delegation to convey his warm greetings and best wishes to Kim Jong Il.

He also extended heartfelt thanks to Kim Jong Il for personally receiving the delegation of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC during its recent visit to the DPRK.

Last year the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and successfully held functions to mark the "year of China-DPRK friendship", thus putting the traditional bilateral friendship on a new higher stage, he said, adding that this friendship is a precious treasure common to the two parties, countries and peoples and it is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to boost this friendship.

Noting that he is sincerely rejoiced over the fact that the Korean comrades are speaking highly of the achievements made by China in its socialist modernization drive, he expressed the belief that the fraternal people of the DPRK would successfully carry out tasks set forth in the joint New Year editorial for this year marking the 65th birthday of the WPK and register fresh successes in building a thriving nation, achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and developing foreign relations under the leadership of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Present there were members of the above-said delegation of the WPK, DPRK Ambassador to China Choe Jin Su, Head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC Wang Jiarui and officials concerned.

Kim Yong Il met and had a talk with Wang Jiarui on the same day.