Top Chinese Legislator Meets DPRK Visitors

Top Chinese Lawmaker Meets DPRK Visitors

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The traditional friendship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is being furthered thanks to concerted efforts by leaders of the two nations, top legislator Li Peng said Wednesday.

Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made this remark while meeting with a delegation headed by Secretary General Kim Yun Hyok of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

Li welcomed the delegation to take part in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries.

A Chinese delegation, led by Jiang Chunyun, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, is visiting the DPRK to attend commemorative activities for the anniversary.

The Sino-DPRK friendship was fostered by the elder-generation leaders of the two neighboring countries and has stood the test of the time and the ups and downs of the international situation, Li said.

The traditional Sino-DPRK friendship is being improved as leaders of the two countries have paid great attention to and made joint efforts for the development of it, he said.

Kim Jong Il, general-secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea ( WPK) Central Committee, attended a celebration banquet held not long ago at the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang on the 80th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Li noted, saying the Chinese side appreciates it.

Briefing Kim Yun Hyok on the current situation in China, Li stressed that the CPC and the Chinese people are going all out to push forward the opening up and the socialist modernization cause while holding high the banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, under the guidance of President Jiang Zemin's ideas on Party building.

Kim Yun Hyok passed on the best wishes of Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, to Li, who asked for his own greetings to be returned.

The friendly ties initiated by the elder-generation leaders of the DPRK and China will be continued with the concern from the new- generation leaders, Kim said.

Kim added he and other members of the delegation have witnessed the great achievements made by the Chinese people in building socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC with Jiang Zemin at the core.

Introducing the internal situation of the DPRK, Kim said the DPRK people, under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, are endeavoring to revitalize the country's economy.

On the Korean peninsula issue, Kim said the DPRK will sincerely fulfill the agreement reached between the north and the south at their summit meeting in June last year, and the DPRK will overcome difficulties to promote the process of the peaceful reunification of the peninsula.

Li reiterated China's persistent policy toward peace and stability on the peninsula, emphasizing that China welcomes the improvement of relations between the north and the south, and supports the ultimate realization of peace and reunification on the peninsula.

Vice-Premier Meets DPRK Visitors

Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen met Wednesday with a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) headed by Secretary General Kim Yun Hyok of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.

Qian welcomed the delegation which are here to participate in activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries.

It is significant for the two countries to send each other's delegations for the celebrations, Qian said.

The practice in the past 40 years has shown that the signing of the treaty conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and has helped safeguard peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and the region, he said.

The traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, which was initiated and cultivated by older-generation proletarian revolutionists of the two countries, has stood tests of the time. China hopes to further push forward bilateral friendly relations with the DPRK in the new century, he said.

Kim said the celebrations carried out by the two countries for the 40th anniversary of the signing of the treaty are significant for enhancing bilateral friendship.

During the visit to China, the delegation witnessed the achievements made by the Chinese people in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Kim said.

He said he hopes the Chinese people could achieve even more in the new century.