The spokesman of the International Department of CPC Central Committee announced here today that at the invitation of Jiang Zemin, General-secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, Kim Jong Il, General-Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee and Chairman of the National Defense Commission, paid an unofficial visit to China from January 15 to 20.
 
During Kim's visit, Jiang held talks with him at the Great Hall of the People and hosted a welcome banquet in his honor.   Prior to the talks, Kim had a four-day tour of Shanghai.    Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier Zhu Rongji met with Kim in Shanghai and accompanied him to visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Shanghai GM Automotive Co., and Shanghai Huahong NEC Electronic Co. Huang Ju, member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of CPC, briefed Kim on Shanghai's reform and opening-up drive, and accompanied him and other DPRK guests to visit the Pudong New District, Shanghai Bell Co., Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shanghai Baosteel, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park and Sunqiao Modern Agricultural Development Zone.

Chinese and DPRK leaders made briefings on their respective domestic situation in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and exchanged views and reached extensive consensus on the further development of bilateral relations and major international issues of common interest. The two sides held that the tradition of mutual contacts between the party and state leaders of the two countries should be maintained.
 
Jiang spoke highly of Kim's visit, which was made at the beginning of the new century, saying that it is an important event in the party-to-party and state-to-state relations between China and DPRK. Kim was pleased to meet with Jiang and other Chinese party and state leaders after an interval of seven months and personally see the development of Shanghai. Both sides held that all relevant departments of the two countries have made active efforts to implement the consensus reached by Jiang and Kim during Kim's previous China tour in last May. The two sides decided to make greater efforts to consolidate, develop and deepen the traditional friendship established and nurtured by Chinese and DPRK leaders of the old generations, and push the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation to a new high, for such a relationship not only conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the two countries but also conduces to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole.
 
Jiang was delighted to see that DPRK people have overcome difficulties and made substantial progress and new achievements in economic development, national reunification and foreign affairs under the leadership of WPK headed by Kim Jong Il. He wished that the WPK and the people of DPRK would accomplish new and greater achievements in all fields in the new century. Kim stressed that the big changes that have taken place in China, and Shanghai in particular, since China began its reform and opening-up drive, fully proved that the policies of reform and opening-up adopted by CPC are correct. He expressed the belief that the Chinese people will surely score new achievements in reaching the targets set in the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-2005), advancing the socialist modernization drive and rejuvenating China under the leadership of CPC with Jiang as the core.
 
Jiang pointed out that China, as a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, has always committed to maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula. China will continue to support the active efforts made by the north and the south of the peninsula to improve relations for the eventual realization of independent and peaceful reunification, welcome and support DPRK to improve and normalize relations with other countries. Kim, in response, expressed his gratitude for all this. Kim reiterated that the WPK and the DPRK government will consistently support China's stance on the Taiwan question and he wished China success in its cause of reunification.
 
Kim invited Jiang to visit DPRK at his convenience. Jiang accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Kim was satisfied with the results of his China tour and expressed his thanks for the warm reception and hospitality of the Chinese side.