Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Il (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan during their meeting in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK July 13, 2005.

Kim Jong-Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Wednesday held talks with visiting Chinese presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan on Sino-DPRK relations and issues related to the six-party talks.

Tang conveyed a message from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Kim, saying that the Chinese Communist Party and government highly respect the long-standing friendship between China and the DPRK, and that China is ready to make joint efforts with the DPRK to further boost relations.

On the forthcoming fourth round of the six-party talks slated for late this month, Hu expressed hope that the talks could achieve substantial progress through close exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Kim said the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the DPRK's goal. He hoped that the mechanism of the six-party talks could become an important platform for the realization of this objective.

"The DPRK expects the next round of the talks to be held on time and make positive progress," he told Tang.

Kim expressed his appreciation of China's unremitting efforts towards the resumption of the six-party talks.

Visiting Chinese presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan (L) presents a gift to Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Il during their meeting in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK July 13, 2005.

Tang said that China's stance on the issue is clear, that is, China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the permanent peace and stability of the peninsula, and seeking a peaceful solution through dialogue.

Tang, a state councillor and former Chinese foreign minister, arrived in the capital Tuesday morning and is expected to stay here for two days.

He was received by Kim Yong-nam, president of the presidium of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang early Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Tang visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay tribute to late DPRK President Kim Il Sung.

He also laid a wreath before the Sino-DPRK Friendship Tower to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers during the Korean War.

Source: Xinhua