Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Tuesday held talks in Pyongyang with Paek Nam-sun, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and exchanged in-depth views on bilateral ties, nuclear issues and other matters of common interest.  

Li said the traditional China-DPRK friendship has witnessed new developments thanks to direct care and efforts from the leaders of both nations.

The bilateral exchanges have been friendly and close in various aspects with a new high in the trade volume in 2003 as the two sides continued to boost vigorous cooperation in trade, economic and cultural fields, said Li.

Li stressed that developing China-DPRK friendly cooperation is the Chinese government's unwavering principle and China is willing to promote the China-DPRK ties in the spirit of "inheriting tradition, looking to the future, upholding neighborliness, and enhancing cooperation."

Paek said the development of DPRK-China relations demonstrated that China's new leadership attached great importance to bilateral ties and the DPRK highly appreciated it.

Further developing the DPRK-China friendship is a firm position of the DPRK government and the Worker's Party of Korea, Paek noted.

Paek also expressed his belief that the DPRK-China relations will be more vigorous with concerted efforts from both sides.

On the Taiwan issue, Li stressed that no matter what the result of the election would be, it cannot change the fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China.

Peak said that the DPRK will continue to firmly support China's stand on the Taiwan issue.

Li arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a three-day official visit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2004)