Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The Chinese newspaper People's Daily on Oct. 20 carried an article titled "China and DPRK record a new chapter of friendship".

The good-neighborly friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have steadily developed, standing the trials of complicated world situation, the paper said, and went on:

This year is an important year in the history of Sino-DPRK friendly relationship as it marks the 50th anniversary of the China-DPRK treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Exchange and cooperation between the two countries have developed in depth in various fields including politics, economy and culture.

In recent years the two countries have strengthened visits and steadily deepened mutual strategic understandings.

Kim Jong Il, supreme leader of the DPRK, visited China four times in a little more than one year lately. He met with General Secretary Hu Jintao to exchange views on bilateral relations and matters of mutual concern and reach an important common understanding on a series of matters. This showed the orientation of developing the China-DPRK relations and injected great vitality in these relations.

Now the two countries are sincerely implementing the important common understanding achieved by their leaders and steadily boosting the friendly exchange and cooperation in various fields while continuing to develop the bilateral relations.

Bilateral cooperation in economy and trade is gaining in scope and exchange in education and culture is becoming active as the days go by.

The signal achievements in the development of the bilateral relations this year are fruition of the common efforts of the two sides, the paper said.

Strengthened exchange and cooperation between the two countries in different fields will further promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and record a new chapter in the history of Sino-DPRK friendly relations, the paper stressed.