China welcomes the official establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Italy, said Foreign Ministryspokesman Zhu Bangzao at the press conference on January 6.

China has always supported the DPRK's efforts to improve ties with the United States, Japan, the European Union, and other Western countries, and to eventually achieve the normalization of relations, Zhu said.

"We believe that this is in accord with the fundamental interests of the people of both countries," he added.

The Italian foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Italy and the DPRK had established diplomatic relations.

Italy is the first Group of Seven member country to form diplomatic ties with the DPRK.