A visiting senior Chinese official has reaffirmed the solid ties between the two allies during his visit to Pyongyang, a gesture analysts see as Beijing’s giving reassurance to North Korea in the aftermath of the Cheonan warship incident.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said Friday China is committed to consolidating ties with North Korea, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.

In a meeting with Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of North Korea’s Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Hu said Chinese leaders attach “great importance” to the bilateral relationship, it said.

“It is China's steadfast policy to continuously consolidate and enhance the good neighborliness and friendly cooperation with North Korea, which will better serve the interests of the two countries and the two peoples,” the report cited the Chinese official as saying.

Yang in response reportedly said: “North Korea will work with the Chinese side to advance the bilateral cooperation and exchange in all areas.”

An international inquiry in May determined that North Korea was responsible for the sinking of the South Korean navy corvette, the Cheonan, which killed 46 sailors in March.

The international community has been pressuring China to stop shielding North Korea from its wrongdoings.