Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with his Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) counterpart Kim Yong Il Sunday afternoon on efforts to further bilateral ties.

The China-DPRK friendship, fostered by founders of the two countries and subject to all tests of the changing times, has been constantly strengthened and improved, Wen said.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and coincides with the China-DPRK Friendship Year, he noted.

The Chinese premier said that for six decades, China and the DPRK have supported each other politically, helped each other economically and learned from each other culturally.

They have also coordinated with each other on multilateral issues and made positive contributions to their respective development and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole, the premier added.

A review of bilateral relations over the past six decades revealed several important points on the development of these ties. One is mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the path of development of their own choice, Wen said.

The other is mutual assistance to deepen their friendship. China has provided assistance within its power to the DPRK to help with its economic development and improve its people's lives; and likewise, the DPRK has offered help and support to China, Wen added.

Still another is mutually beneficial cooperation that supplies with each other's needs and bring tangible benefit to the two peoples.

Finally, to better coordinate with each other to help maintain peace and stability in the region, he said.

China is ready to work with the DPRK to protect, consolidate and promote the friendly cooperative relations between the two nations in order to bring benefits to their peoples and enhance regional stability and development, he said.

China will maintain exchanges with the DPRK side at all levels and in all fields, reinforce coordination with it on important issues, heighten the level of their trade cooperation, expand their cultural exchange to strengthen the social foundation of their friendly relations, Wen said.

Kim Yong Il congratulated Wen on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic and wished Chinese people still greater success in implementing the scientific outlook on development and building a harmonious society under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

A great variety of celebration will be held to mark the China-DPRK Friendship Year and further develop the traditional friendship between the two nations, he said

The DPRK side has all along cherished its traditional friendship with China and has been grateful to China for its long-term support and assistance, he said.

Kim said he hoped that both sides would take the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as a new start to push bilateral ties further forward.

The DPRK side pledged to work with China to enhance high-level exchanges as well as communications at all levels, deepen political mutual trust and promote practical cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, he said.

The DPRK side is willing to maintain exchange and cooperation with China on regional and international issues and it welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, he added.

On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Wen said that China appreciated the DPRK's commitment to the objectives of making the Peninsula nuclear free. He stressed that such a commitment, which helps maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia as a whole, is in the interest of all the parties concerned, including the DPRK.

It is the consensus of the international community that to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and consultation is the only way to solve the peninsula's nuclear issue, Wen said, pledging China's readiness to strengthen exchange and consultation with the DPRK.

Kim Yong Il said, it is the wish of late leader Kim Il Sung to realize denulearization on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK side has never given up this wish, and is willing to have bilateral and multilateral dialogues for this end, adding that it will continue to maintain close exchange and coordination with China.

After the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of documents on bilateral cooperation in economic, technological and other fields.