Chinese President Hu Jintao met Thursday with the Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Yong Il.

　　Hu reviewed 60 years of China-DPRK ties, saying the friendship, initiated and fostered by the older generation of leaders, had withstood the test of international and domestic changes.

　　"The friendship, which has kept developing, has become the common treasure of both nations," Hu said.

　　The DPRK was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China. The two countries forged diplomatic relations on Oct. 6, 1949, days after the People's Republic of China was founded.

　　Hu said the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government attach great importance to ties with the DPRK. China would like to work with the DPRK for a better good-neighbor cooperation.

　　Kim came to China on an official goodwill visit and launched the China-DPRK Friendship Year in Beijing, a year-long exchange program marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

　　"We should take the opportunity of the friendship year to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen strategic communication and promote substantive cooperation for a stronger bilateral relations," Hu said.

　　On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Hu said a question confronting all parties concerned was how to overcome what he termed the current difficulties and resume the six-party talks at an early date.