Leaders of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had in-depth discussions on various issues during DPRK leader Kim Jong Il's China visit and achieved broad consensus, said a senior official with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing Wednesday.

Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the International Department of theCPC Central Committee, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the China tour by Kim Jong Il, general secretary ofthe Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President Hu Jintao, Kim paidan unofficial visit to China from April 19 to 21.

Under the current circumstances, Kim's visit to China attracts huge attention from the international community, said Liu, adding that this is Kim's first visit to China and also the first meetingbetween the highest level of leadership of China and the DPRK since China's new collective leadership took office.

He said the discussions between Chinese and DPRK leaders included further improving inter-party and bilateral relations, international and regional situation as well as the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.

The two sides reached broad consensus and a series of positive achievements have been made, Liu said.

Firstly, the two sides expressed common aspiration to continue strengthening and developing the China-DPRK friendship, Liu said.

He said Hu and other members of China's new collective leadership exchanged views with Kim on China-DPRK friendly cooperative relations in a cordial, friendly and frank atmosphere.Jiang Zemin, chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission also met with Kim.

Kim extended congratulations to China's new collective leadership with Hu Jintao as general secretary, Liu said.

Leaders of the two sides expressed their willingness to treasure the China-DPRK friendship meticulously cultivated by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries and to continue exerting efforts to enhance and develop the friendship, Liu said.

This common aspiration will lay down a firm foundation for the new development of China-DPRK traditional friendship under the newsituation and in the new century, and will definitely push bilateral relations to a new level, he said.

Secondly, Kim's visit and meetings with Chinese leaders deepened understanding, trust and friendship between the two countries, Liu said.

Liu said the two sides briefed each other on domestic conditions of each country and held broad and in-depth discussionson many issues including economic construction, rural development,city administration, party building as well as international and regional situations.

He said the two sides believe that it is of great significance for leaders of the two parties and countries to exchange views frequently and frankly via various forms on the issues of common concern. The two sides said the tradition of frequent meeting between leaders of the two parties and countries should be continued.

Thirdly, the two sides reached important consensus on further improving exchanges and cooperation, said Liu.

He said leaders of the two sides held fruitful discussions on exploring, deepening and enriching China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations. The two sides fully reaffirmed the exchanges, cooperation as well as positive results achieved in various aspects and at all levels, Liu said.

Liu said China put forward some suggestions of improving high-level exchanges, deepening all-round cooperation, strengthening coordination in international affairs and intensifying economic and trade relations. The DPRK expressed positive agreement with the suggestions.

The important suggestions and the concrete measures from both sides will firmly advance the new development of China-DPRK relations and breathe new force and vitality into the traditional China-DPRK friendship.

Fourthly, the two sides agreed to jointly advance the six-partytalks process, Liu said.

He said the two sides had in-depth discussions on internationaland regional issues, especially on the nuclear issue of the KoreanPeninsula.

The two sides fully acknowledged the results of the Beijing tri-party talks and the two rounds of six-party talks, Liu said.

They also agreed to continue sticking to resolving the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue, jointly pushing forward the process of the six-party talks and making contributions to the peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, Liu said.

Liu said Kim spoke highly of China's new collective leadership's positive stance on and important contribution to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Liu said Kim expressed clearly his adherence to the final goal of nuclear-weapon-free peninsula and his stance on seeking peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue, said Liu,adding that Kim also said the DPRK side would continue to activelyparticipate in the process of six-party talks with patience and flexibility.

Liu said the positive stance from the DPRK side will made it possible to push forward the six-party talks process and resolve the nuclear issue in a peaceful way.

Source:Xinhua