China envoy meets North Korean leader Kim

Beijing, Oct 19: Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy in the North Korea nuclear crisis met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il today, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

Tang Jiaxuan, state councillor and former Foreign Minister, had delivered a message from Hu and they had discussed North Korea's nuclear test.

''This visit was very important,'' Liu said. ''It has major significance.'' Liu said he could not give any specifics about what was said.

Liu said Tang arrived in Pyongyang yesterday along with Chinese Vice Foreign Ministers Dai Bingguo and Wu Dawei, who is also China's chief negotiator to the six-party talks.

REUTERS