China vows to stand by isolated North Korea

How sweet ! China is going to stand by it's long time Communist friends the Nork's ! This should make the six party talks with North Korea go a lot smoother now .

BEIJING (Reuters) - China pledged to strengthen bonds with isolated North Korea on Monday, calling their relationship a boon to peace, while reports of swoops on North Korean ships underscored strains behind a recent easing of tension.

The renewed courting between the two communist neighbors came in messages between Chinese President Hu Jintao and North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong-il, who on Sunday greeted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the start of a visit intended to bolster bilateral relations.

The messages marked 60 years since the countries established formal ties on October 6, 1949, and made no mention of the North's nuclear weapons program, stressing instead their focus on shoring up sometimes tense ties.

"History demonstrates that developing China-North Korea relations is in keeping with the fundamental interests and shared wishes of both countries' people," said the congratulatory message from China, issued by the official Xinhua news agency. "It also benefits protecting regional peace and stability."

In a message to China, Kim Jong-il and other North Korean leaders said relations would "constantly consolidate and develop," Xinhua reported.

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