Xi, Kim laud sound, stable bilateral ties

China-DPRK friendship weathers intl changes and becomes stronger, Xi says

President Xi Jinping said on Sunday that Beijing stands ready to join hands with Pyongyang in pushing forward the long-term, sound and stable development of their bilateral relationship.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark as he exchanged congratulatory messages with Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, over the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Xi extended warm congratulations on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people, to Kim, who is also chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, and through Kim to the WPK, the DPRK government and the DPRK people.

China and the DPRK officially established diplomatic ties 70 years ago, which had epoch-making significance in the history of relations between the two parties and countries, Xi said.

The DPRK was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China.

Xi said the China-DPRK traditional friendship has weathered international vicissitudes and changes over time under the care of successive leaders of the two parties and countries and joint efforts from both sides over the past seven decades.

It has enjoyed constant development, become even stronger and been supported by the people, he said.

He also said that the two countries have achieved fruitful results in exchanges and cooperation in various fields that have greatly promoted prosperity and progress in the cause of socialism in the two countries and played an active and important role in safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Xi stressed that the China-DPRK traditional friendship is a precious asset of two parties, two countries and two peoples. It is an unswerving policy of the CPC and the Chinese government to maintain, consolidate and develop sound China-DPRK ties, he added.

He said he highly values developing China-DPRK ties and cherishes the mutual trust and friendship with Kim.

In June, Xi paid a two-day state visit to the DPRK, the first visit by the top leader of the CPC and China's head of state in 14 years. Before the visit, Xi and Kim had met four times in China since Kim first visited Beijing in March last year.

A series of important consensuses reached through the meetings have guided the bilateral relationship into a new historical era, Xi said.

In his message, Kim extended the warmest congratulations and sincerest wishes in the name of the WPK, the DPRK government and the DPRK people to Xi and through Xi to the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

The two parties and peoples of the two countries have always weathered all tempests while sharing weal and woe with each other in the course of defending and developing the cause of socialism and have written a history of great friendship, Kim said.

He said that the DPRK-China relationship has entered a critical period of carrying forward history and carving out a new future. It is the fixed position of himself, the WPK and the DPRK government to carry forward the excellent traditions of the DPRK-China friendship and to further develop overall prosperity and friendly and cooperative relations, Kim said.

Kim said he firmly stands together with Xi in strengthening and developing the DPRK-China friendship as desired by the people of the two countries, in steadily defending the cause of socialism, and in preserving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.