China repeats invitation to North Korean leader

(ATTN: MODIFIES headline, lead, UPDATES through 9th para with analyst's view, Seoul
official's quote)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- China has again invited North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il to visit Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao,
Pyongyang's state media said Thursday, in the second such invitation in the year
that marks the 60th anniversary of friendly relations.
Hu had asked Kim to visit China through a letter last month. The invitation was
renewed on Wednesday by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the People's Political
Consultative Conference of China and the fourth-ranking member of the Communist
Party's politburo standing committee, according to the Korean Central
Broadcasting Station (KCBS).
"Mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries are the most essential and
irreplaceable in developing bilateral relations," Jia was quoted as telling
visiting North Korean Workers' Party officials by the state-run radio station.
"We will ardently welcome Comrade Kim Jong-il and senior officials of the Korean
party and government to visit China at a convenient time," he said.
Kim had accepted Hu's invitation, but no schedules were set yet. Hu sent a letter
to Kim by a Chinese party official, Wang Jiarui, who was the first foreign guest
to meet with Kim since his reported stroke last August. China's Xinhua news
agency had reported then that Kim "gladly accepted" the invitation.
Watchers say a Kim-Hu summit is likely this year as the allies celebrate the 60th
anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Kim last visited China in January
2006, with his itinerary focused on the country's industrial facilities. Hu's
last trip to Pyongyang was in October 2005.
Hong Ihk-pyo, a North Korea analyst with the Korea Institute for International
Economic Policy, said a summit on the 60th anniversary can be a win-win strategy.
"They can't just let this year pass," Hong said, "China wants to expand its
influence in North Korea, which is deeply in need of Chinese cooperation to
rebuild its economy and also to mend ties with the new U.S. government."
Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said Kim appears to be well
enough to travel to China, citing his days-long trip to North Korea's
northernmost region this week.
The North Korean party delegation to Beijing was led by Ri Kwang-ho, department
director of the Workers' Party central committee, who is a close confidant of
Kim's and the North's top science expert. Ri also accompanied the North Korean
leader on his latest China visit.
Jia also proposed strengthening economic and trade ties, according to the KCBS,
which he said would be beneficial to "strategic cooperation" between the allies.
After the meeting between Kim and Wang on Jan. 23, North Korea unilaterally
announced the Chinese government's decision to provide free aid to the North.
Beijing later confirmed the agreement but has not disclosed the extent or timing
of the aid.
A flurry of diplomatic and cultural exchange is planned for the 60th anniversary
of diplomatic relations. China fought for North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War
against South Korea and the U.S.-led United Nations forces.
North Korean media said Wednesday that the allies have signed a 2009-2011
inter-governmental plan aimed at boosting cultural exchanges.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)