President Hu Jintao emphasized China's readiness to deepen its traditional friendship and boost mutually beneficial cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during a meeting with a high-level DPRK delegation Monday afternoon.

Hu said that as China and the DPRK celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, the two countries have dispatched delegations to visit each other to jointly commemorate the signing.

The delegations will further deepen China-DPRK relations and boost mutually beneficial cooperation, Hu said.

Hu made the remarks during a meeting with Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly and leader of the delegation, at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Monday afternoon.

Yang is in Beijing for a four-day visit as China and DPRK hold a series of events to mark the anniversary of the signing of the treaty. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang is currently visiting the DPRK and will return on Wednesday.

During his meeting with Yang, President Hu said that over the past 50 years, China and the DPRK have continuously advanced bilateral relations by respecting and supporting each other under the guidance of the treaty.

"We are ready to work with the DPRK to carry forward traditions, embrace the future, maintain a neighborly friendship and strengthen cooperation," Hu said.

He expressed the country's readiness to work with the DPRK to increase high-level contacts, deepen strategic communication, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and conduct exchanges between the governing parties of both nations.

Hu said China is ready to boost the development of China-DPRK relations in a sustained and extensive way.

Yang congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the celebration of its 90th founding anniversary this year. He said that DPRK-China relations have been developed and fostered by previous generations of leaders and are a source of "precious wealth" to be shared by both sides.

Yang said DPRK-China relations have entered a new stage of development, thanks to the care and attention of top leaders from both nations. The two sides have continued to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas, he said.

He said the DPRK places great importance on its relations with China, and is ready to work with China to continue to reinforce and expand bilateral relations and to collaborate with China to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Yang attended a reception marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty on Sunday. He also met with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), on Monday.