A senior Chinese legislator said on Tuesday that China will make joint efforts with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to push forward bilateral ties on occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relationship.

Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the remarks when he met with a DPRK youth delegation.

China attaches great importance to relations with the DPRK and insists on enhancing China-DPRK neighborly friendly cooperation, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The 100-member-strong DPRK youth delegation, headed by Kil Chol Hyok, secretary of the central committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League of the DPRK, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday as one of the exchange programs of the China-DPRK Friendship Year.

The young people from the two countries should further exchanges and pour new energy and vigor into the traditional friendship between the two countries, said Wang.

China and the DPRK launched the Friendship Year in March to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The year-long exchange programs also include a painting show, art performances, a movie festival and women's football match.

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

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2009)