Kim Jong-Il, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Wednesday met with visiting Chinese presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan to discuss Sino-DPRK relations and issues related to six-party nuclear 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 impending fourth round of six-party nuclear talks scheduled for late July, Hu expressed hope that the talks would 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 help in the realization of this objective.

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

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

Tang, a state councilor and former foreign minister, arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday morning and is expected to stay until Thursday.

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 on Wednesday.

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 soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers who fought in the Korean War.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2005)