Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during Kim' s unofficial visit to China.

Wen said he received warm welcome from the DPRK party, government and people during his visit to the DPRK last October, and the joint celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK diplomatic ties left him good impression.

Currently, China and the DPRK are witnessing active exchanges and cooperation in various fields and Kim' s visit will definitely help further deepen traditional friendship between the two parties, countries and peoples, Wen said.

Wen said China will, as always, support the DPRK for developing economy and improving people' s livelihood and is willing to introduce to the DPRK the experience of China' s reform and opening-up and construction.

China and the DPRK enjoy big potential for developing economic and trade cooperation, said Wen, urging the two sides to make joint efforts to advance major cooperative projects, quicken the infrastructure construction in border areas and explore new cooperative fields and methods so as to benefit the two peoples, said Wen.

Recalling Premier Wen's successful visit to the DPRK last year, Kim said the DPRK-China cooperation in such areas as trade, agriculture, science and technology is of great significance for promoting bilateral traditional relationship.

The DPRK will work with China to enhance communication and coordination to make pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two countries to score more significant achievements.

At the invitation of Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from May 3 to 7.