BEIJING -- Chinese Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin reassured North Korean leader Kim Il Sung Friday that the two socialist regimes would maintain close ties regardless of communism's collapse elsewhere, an official report said.
Kim arrived Friday on an official visit for talks expected to focus on the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, nuclear proliferation and China's growing ties with South Korea.
Jiang and Kim discussed bilateral and international issues for two hours at the Diaoyutai state guest house on Beijing's west side, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
China's Communist Party leader reassured Kim of continuing close ties despite 'profound changes,' China's preferred euphemism for the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
'Jiang said that no matter how the international situation might change in the future, China will continue to make every effort to further strengthen Sino-(North Korean) friendship,' Xinhua said.
Jiang also praised Kim's proposal to reunify the Korean peninsula through a confederation system, saying China is 'highly concerned' over tension between North Korea and its southern rival, Xinhua said.
Kim, 79, came to China by train and was met at the Beijing railway station Friday morning by China's three top officials, President Yang Shangkun, Jiang and Premier Li Peng. The three were shown on state-run television's nightly national newscast exchanging Soviet-style bear hugs with the Korean leader.
Kim's visit led the news. Videotaped footage showed an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring hundreds of citizens and children waving North Korean and Chinese flags and beating drums and gongs, followed by Kim's arrival at Diaoyutai.
The footage clearly showed the huge growth on Kim's neck that North Korean officials bar photographers from revealing.
The North Korean leader last visited China a year ago, when he met with Jiang in the northeast city of Shenyang, but that trip was not officially reported.
Among subjects likely to be discussed between Kim and Chinese officials are the sweeping changes in the Soviet Union since the failed coup there last month. North Korea and China remain in a shrinking club of hard-line communist states.
The Communist Party People's Daily hailed Kim in a front-page editorial for 'great achievements in resisting foreign aggression, safeguarding national independence and building socialism.'
China, however, has been moving steadily closer to South Korea. The two countries opened trade offices in each other's capitals early this year and economic relations are booming.
China steadfastly denies it wants to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea, but with Seoul and Pyongyang now both admitted to the United Nations, Beijing may move toward fuller ties.
