Kim Yong-il, cabinet premier of North Korea, met in Pyongyang Monday with Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to North Korea.

Kim said North Korea-China traditional friendship has a long history and North Korea will make continued efforts to consolidate and strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Liu firstly conveyed the greetings from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Kim.

Liu spoke highly of the China-North Korea friendship, saying the bilateral cooperation will develop smoothly under the guidance of the top leaders of the two countries.

"The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government attach great importance to the bilateral friendship and that it is their firm policy to consolidate and develop the bilateral friendship," said Liu.

Liu is the first foreign ambassador met by Kim since he was appointed cabinet premier on April 11.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2007)