BEIJING, Dec. 17  -- Senior Chinese leader Liu Yunshan attended a ceremony on the third anniversary of the demise of Kim Jong Il, former supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Beijing Wednesday.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), presented a flower basket at the ceremony, in the name of the CPC Central Committee.

Liu, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, told DPRK ambassador Ji Jae Ryong that comrade Kim Jong Il had made significant contributions to inheriting and developing the traditional China-DPRK friendship.

He said the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary places great importance on the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK and is ready to work with the DPRK to maintain, consolidate and develop the traditional friendship.

Ji thanked Liu for attending the ceremony, which was held in the DPRK embassy, and expressed readiness to work with Chinese comrades to advance friendly relations between DPRK and China.

Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and other senior Chinese officials attended the ceremony.