Chinese President Hu Jintao conveyed a congratulatory message to North Korea's strongman Kim Jong-il as the latter was reelected head of the National Defense Commission by its rubber-stamp parliament Thursday, Pyongyang's official sate media said Saturday.
"The reelection (of Kim Jong-il) as the chairman of the National Defense Commission shows the North Korean people's sincere support and high confidence (in him)," Hu said in the message, Yonhap Saturday quoted the Korea Central News Agency as saying.
According to North Korea's law, Kim's post makes him the most powerful person in the nation.
The new Supreme People's Assembly reelected Kim Thursday amid suspicions of his ailing health. He reportedly suffered s stroke last summer.
The message comes at a sensitive time. China vehemently opposed efforts by the U.S. and its allies to sanction North Korea for its rocket launch last Sunday.
"The coherent policy of the Chinese government and Communist Party is to consolidate and develop cooperation and a friendly relationship between China and North Korea," said Hu, according to the KCNA.
"China will make efforts jointly with North Korea to further develop a cooperative and friendly relationship between China and North Korea on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties and the Friendship Year of China and North Korea," it said.
Kim ascended to power in 1994 after the death of his father, Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founder.