calendar>>July 12. 2009 Juche 98

Anniversary of DPRK-China Treaty Marked in China

Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Korea Friendship Association arranged a reception on July 10 to mark the 48th anniversary of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

Present there on invitation were Ambassador Choe Jin Su and staff members of the DPRK embassy in Beijing and members of the Pyongyang schoolchildren's art troupe on a visit to China.

Speeches were made at the reception.

The chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association noted that Premier Zhou Enlai and President Kim Il Sung signed the treaty on July 11, 1961, thus making a positive contribution to promoting the economic and social development of the two countries and defending the regional peace and stability.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK diplomatic ties and it is also a "year of China-DPRK friendship," he said, adding that they would as ever make unremitting efforts to steadily develop the friendship between the Chinese and Korean peoples and strengthen the exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

It is the constant stand of the Chinese party and government to steadily consolidate and develop the China-DPRK friendship, he stated, and said:

To protect and develop the traditional China-DPRK friendship is the common desire of the two peoples, and this not only conforms to the common interests of the two countries but also is beneficial to the regional peace and development.

The Chinese people are rejoiced over the signal achievements the fraternal Korean people are making in socialist construction, closely rallied around the Workers' Party of Korea headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

We are convinced that the industrious and resourceful Korean people will attain the goal of opening the gate to a great prosperous and powerful nation in 2012 as soon as possible and steadily open up a new phase in the cause of ensuring peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and realizing the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.

The DPRK ambassador noted that the two peoples have steadily strengthened the bonds of friendship, supporting and cooperating with each other on the basis of the DPRK-China treaty.

It is the consistent stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations, he said, expressing the will to set store by the bilateral friendship and strive to further develop it in keeping with the requirement of the new century.