DPRK promises to attend Six-Party Talks
By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-29 06:25

It was his first visit to the DPRK since he took office in 2002, and the first by the CPC chief since September 2001, when Hu's predecessor Jiang Zemin visited Pyongyang.

The visit comes amid international efforts to convince Pyongyang to stop its nuclear programme and ensure a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

It follows a flurry of diplomatic activity between Beijing and Pyongyang, including DPRK visits by Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Li Bin, the Chinese diplomat responsible for Korean affairs, early this month.

China hosted international talks which last month produced an agreement that Pyongyang will give up all nuclear programmes in exchange for security guarantees and energy assistance.

However, the DPRK has demanded that it be given a nuclear reactor for power generation before it dismantles its atomic projects.

Earlier, Hu received "the highest honour and most courteous reception" upon his arrival, a sign of strong traditional Sino-DPRK friendship.

In the downtown area of a city with a population of 3 million, up to 300,000 people lined up along the main street towards the Paekhwawon Guesthouse.

Flower-waving citizens in traditional Korean dress performed folk dances, shouting "Welcome, Hu Jintao!" in Chinese. Banners in both Korean and Chinese touting friendship were everywhere.

Local officials said preparations for Hu's visit started almost half a year ago.

In a written speech at the airport, Hu said developing friendly and co-operative Sino-DPRK relations conforms to the fundamental interests of the two nations.