Beijing: North Korea's ambassador to China has briefed the Chinese ruling party on the results of Pyongyang's recent ruling party congress, a Chinese party department's website showed Friday. Ambassador Ri Ryong-nam met Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, the previous day and briefed him on the congress of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to the department's website.

According to Yonhap News Agency, in February, North Korea held the party congress for the first time in five years to outline an economic development plan and other guiding policies for the next five years. During the meeting, Liu stressed that Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had established a blueprint for developing bilateral relations, and expressed willingness to strengthen strategic communication and working-level cooperation with Pyongyang.

He also said China is willing to solidify its traditional friendship with North Korea and join hands to promote the stable, long-term development of the two countries' socialist causes. The website quoted the North Korean ambassador as saying that the party congress clarified the direction of North Korea's national development and policy goals, reaffirming Pyongyang's determination to maintain close ties with China.