North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang in Pyongyang.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said that during their meeting on Monday, Kim expressed the determination of the North’s government and Workers’ Party of Korea to improve friendly and cooperative ties between the North and China.

In response, Li, who is likely to become China’s next premier, said that the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China stand solid in plans to faithfully implement a wide scope of accords that North Korean and Chinese leaders have adopted.

Among North Korean officials present at Monday’s dinner were Kim’s son and heir apparent Kim Jong-un and Ri Yong-ho, chief of the Korean People’s Army General Staff.

Li will travel to South Korea on Wednesday for a two-day stay after heading back to Beijing on Tuesday.