Hu vows to work with Pyongyang

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President Hu Jintao on Monday expressed confidence in Kim Jong-un, the young leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while promising Beijing will work with Pyongyang for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Hu made the remarks while meeting with Kim Yong-il, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK's ruling party, at the Great Hall of the People. Kim is heading a WPK delegation visiting China.

This is the first time Hu has met a high-level official from Pyongyang since the DPRK's failed rocket launch on April 13, which rattled the nerves of neighboring countries.

Kim was sent to Beijing soon after the Fourth Conference of the WPK, held earlier this month, to share the content of the meeting, Hu said at the start of the meeting.

This "fully reflected the high importance" the DPRK attaches to the relationship, Hu said. Kim Jong-un was elected first secretary of the WPK at the conference, and was elected first chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission during the fifth session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly.

According to a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry, Hu told Kim Yong-il that he believes the WPK and the DPRK government will lead the country to achieve new accomplishments and build a prosperous nation under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un.

On Saturday, Kim Yong-il and Wang Jiarui, the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, led a meeting under a strategic communication mechanism between the ruling parties.

Xinhua said they discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Kim has also met State Councilor Dai Bingguo, China's most senior official on foreign policy.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.