DPRK Paper Hails Chinese President's Visit

Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will further boost the friendly ties between the two peoples and create a favorable environment for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia, a leading DPRK newspaper said Monday.

Jiang's visit comes at a time when the Korean people are making energetic endeavors to build a prosperous and powerful nation and to achieve national reunification, said Rodong Sinmun in a commentary.

Jiang arrived here Monday noon for a three-day official goodwill visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Il, general-secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee and chairman of the National Defense Commission (NDC).

The paper said that the long-standing and deep-rooted Sino-DPRK friendship will continue to develop in the new century.

It added that the peoples of the two countries have hewed the path of victory, waging the common protracted and arduous struggle against imperialism and for independence, sovereignty and socialism.

Jiang's visit "is a demonstration of the bonds of the DPRK- China friendship growing stronger in the new century," the paper said.

It also applauded China's accomplishments of its modernization drive, saying the Chinese people have "embarked upon the road of making a new advance to attain a higher goal of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party with Jiang Zemin at the core."

"They are working hard to successfully carry out the Three Major Tasks, thoroughly meet the demands of the 'three represents' and achieve the reunification of the whole country," the paper continued.

"It is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the people of Korea to steadily consolidate and develop the Sino- DPRK friendship. We are convinced that the DPRK-China friendship will grow stronger in the new century thanks to the joint efforts of the two parties and peoples."






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