North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has met for talks with a senior Chinese official in Pyongyang, his first reception for an overseas guest since taking power, after the death of his father Kim Jong-il.

During his talks with Wang Jiarui, the head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Liaison Department, Kim Jong-un said that Pyongyang will promote further cooperation with Beijing to bring bilateral ties to a new level. The Chinese official also stressed that his country's policy was to strengthen the long-time ties between the two countries. Wang said  that both countries should enhance strategic communications and coordination on major global and regional issues, and make more effort to safeguard peace and stability on the Korea Peninsula and achieve lasting peace in Northeast Asia.