President Hu Jintao has invited Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong-il to visit China.

The invitation, made to a visiting official of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party, Choe Thae-bok, came in a meeting on Wednesday where the two countries pledged to strengthen ties as they celebrate 60 years of alliance.

"At the meeting, comrade Hu Jintao asked Choe Thae-bok to convey his invitation to General Secretary Kim Jong-il to visit China at a time convenient to him," the DPRK's official KCNA news agency said on Thursday.