Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan here on Thursday.

China's Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, center, accompanied by Kim Il Chol, Minister of People's Armed Forces of North Korea, reviews the honor guard of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, capital of North Korea, Tuesday, April 4, 2006. Cao arrived in the North earlier in the day as part of an Asian tour that will also take him to Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. [AP]

They had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.

Kim spoke highly of the traditional DPRK-China friendship, saying the DPRK is willing to work with China to further deepen relations between their countries and military forces.

Cao, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China and a state councilor, expressed that China is happy to see the sound development of bilateral ties in the new century.

The military ties are important components of overall bilateral relations and the Chinese armed forces are ready to further enhance exchanges with the DPRK armed forces, Cao said.

On Tuesday, Cao held talks with Kim Il-chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces of the DPRK. Then he met with Jo Myong-rok, first vice chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK on Wednesday.

Cao arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a three-day official goodwill visit.