Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping says Beijing will further advance favorable ties with the new leaders of North Korea's Workers' Party.

China's official Xinhua News says the vice president made the remark during an event at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing held to mark the 65th anniversary of the Workers' Party.

Xi, on behalf of President Hu Jintao, congratulated the successful hosting of the recently held Workers' Party conference. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's two visits to China this year marked a milestone in bilateral relations.

The remarks by Xi, eyed as China's next leader, are interpreted as Beijing's acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the new North Korean leadership.