Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), holds talks with Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission in Changchun, capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province

On August 27, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held talks with Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission in Changchun, capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province. Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from August 26 to 30 at the invitation of Hu. During his China trip, Kim visited Jilin Province and Heilongjiang Province.

During the talks, Hu, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, warmly welcomed Kim on his second visit. Hu thanked the DPRK for sending a message of condolence to China after a devastating mudslide hit Zhouqu County in northwestern Gansu Province earlier this month. Hu expressed heartfelt condolences to the DPRK for the floods that hit some areas of the country. Hu said that at present, China and the DPRK are increasing vigorous exchange and cooperation in various fields, among various departments and between provinces along the borders. The two sides have maintained close communication and coordination on issues of the Korean Peninsula and the region. Hu said China is ready to work with the DPRK to carefully safeguard and develop friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Hu put forward three proposals for further strengthening relations between the CPC and the WPK and between the two countries. Firstly, the two sides should maintain high-level contact, which is of great significance to continuously pushing forward the development of the China-DPRK relations. Leaders of the two sides should continue to maintain regular communication in various forms. Secondly, the two sides should advance trade and economic cooperation. Expanding and deepening mutually beneficial and win-win trade and economic cooperation is in the basic interests of the two peoples. China is ready to develop trade and economic cooperation in the principles of government guidance with enterprises playing a major role, market operation, and mutual benefits for win-win results. Thirdly, the two sides should strengthen strategic communication. Since the regional and international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes, prompt, thorough and in-depth communication between China and the DPRK on major issues is of critical importance to effectively maintaining peace and stability in the Northeast Asia region and to promoting common development.

Kim thanked Hu for his invitation and warm welcome. Kim said he fully agrees with Hu's comment and proposals on advancing the relations between the WPK and CPC and between the two countries. Kim said the northeastern part of China is the place where DPRK-China friendship began. He said through this visit, the DPRK side had yet another in-depth experience of the preciousness of the DPRK-China friendship created by older generations of revolutionaries from both countries. Kim said at present, the two sides should strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields, among various departments and between the provinces along the borders. He said the two sides should also attach importance to exchange and mutual learning of their young people so as to continuously push forward the development of traditional DPRK-China friendship.

During the talks, Hu and Kim also briefed each other on the domestic situation and development plan of their respective countries. Hu hailed the achievements the DPRK people have made in economic development. He expressed his hope that the upcoming national plenary session of the WPK will be a success.

Hu emphasized that it is a basic experience of China's reform and opening up drive in the past more than three decades to unswervingly adhere to the central task of economic development, push forward all causes of socialist modernization in an all-round way and continuously secure and improve the livelihood of the people. Hu said economic development calls for self-dependence but cannot be achieved without cooperating with the outside world. This is the inevitable path of the times that accelerates the development of a country. Hu said the Chinese side respects and supports the active measures the DPRK side has taken to maintain stability, develop its economy and improve the livelihood of its people.

Kim said China has rapidly developed with strong vitality in all fields since it began to reform and open up to the outside world. Kim said, as a witness of this historic process, he believes it proves the correctness of the guidelines and policies the CPC and the Chinese government adopted to reinvigorate China's traditional industrial zones, such as the northeastern area, develop its western areas, realize balanced growth of different parts of the country and build a harmonious socialist society. Kim expressed belief that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will complete the goals of the 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), smoothly embark on implementing the 12th five-year plan (2011-2015) and celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC with great achievements. Kim said the DPRK is now focusing on developing its economy and improving its people's livelihood. He expressed his wish to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China.

Leaders of the two countries also exchanged views on the situation of the Korean Peninsula and other international and regional issues of common concern. Hu said there had been some new developments of the Korean Peninsula situation since the United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement on the Cheonan warship sinking incident. Maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula accords with common aspiration of the people, he said. Hu said China respects and supports positive efforts of the DPRK to ease the situation of the peninsula while improving the outside environment. China held that all parties concerned should continue to actively work for peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as well as the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, he said. He called on all parties concerned to make positive efforts for the ease of the current tension, early resumption of the six-party talks and gradual improvement of the situation of the Korean Peninsula. Kim highly appreciated China's positive efforts and contribution to the six-party talks and maintaining the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. He said the DPRK's position on adhering to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula had remained unchanged, and the country "is not willing to see tensions on the peninsula." Kim expressed the wish to maintain close communication and coordination with China in pushing for an early resumption of the six-party talks to ease the tension on the Korean Peninsula, and to maintain peace and stability of the peninsula.

Following the talks, President Hu held a welcoming banquet for Kim's visit.

During his China trip, Kim visited Jilin City and Changchun City in Jilin Province and Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province. Kim visited enterprises of machinery manufacturing, railway transportation, chemical industry and food processing, as well as some agricultural projects and listened to the introduction by related responsible officials. He said Jilin was a place where he once lived, and he was greatly touched and impressed to see its great changes and development when he came back this time. Kim said China's northeast region borders the DPRK and has a similar landscape and industrial structure to his country. The DPRK hopes to strengthen exchange and cooperation with China's northeast and learn from China's experience, he said.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, principal leaders of relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and state agencies and principal leaders of Jilin and Heilongjiang attended relevant activities and accompanied Kim during the visit respectively.

Kim Yong Chun, vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission (NDC) of the DPRK, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, Thae Jong Su, department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Jang Song Thaek, vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission, Hong Sok Hyong, Kim Yong Il and Kim Yang Gon who are department directors of the WPK Central Committee, Choe Ryong Hae, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Phyong Hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, and Pak To Chun, chief secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee of the WPK, accompanied Kim during the visit and attended related activities.