BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing on Friday, calling for more efforts to advance the long-term, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

The Chinese government on Friday reiterated its support for North Korea’s strategic shift towards domestic economic development during a meeting between the country’s two foreign ministers in Beijing.

Kim Jong Un in April announced at the 3rd Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) that North Korea would no longer test nuclear weapons and instead would turn its focus on building its “socialist economic system.”

Friday saw Wang reiterate China’s support for that plan, as well as Beijing’s commitment to improve ties between the two countries.

“The Third Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea has made a new strategic line decision, which fully conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the North Korean nation,” a Chinese foreign ministry readout issued following the talks said.

“China firmly supports the DPRK’s development path in line with its national conditions and supports the DPRK’s efforts to maintain stability, develop the economy, and improve people’s livelihood.”

Friday’s meeting sees the North Korean foreign minister wrap up a week-long diplomatic tour, which has in the last few days taken him to Vietnam and, later, Syria.