XI: DEVELOP BEIJING-PYONGYANG RELATIONS

BEIJING, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim Jong-Un, President of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on the 78th anniversary of the founding of North Korea, calling for the development of relations between the two countries and friendship between the two peoples.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said that over the past 78 years, under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Korean people had advanced independently and with unity, promoting strong development in all aspects of socialism in Korea.

"Especially in recent years, General Secretary Kim Jong Un has led the party and the people of North Korea in making every effort toward economic and social development, achieving a series of successes, which the Chinese side sincerely welcomes," said Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Xi expressed confidence that the fraternal people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would certainly be able to achieve the goals set at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea and continually open up new prospects in the building of the party and the state, the China Media Group reported.

He underlined that China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are socialist friendly neighbouring countries with a shared destiny that assist each other.

The Chinese president said that maintaining, consolidating and developing relations between China and North Korea had always been an unwavering policy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Government.

Xi noted that he visited North Korea in June, when he met with Kim once again and opened a new chapter in the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries.

"I am ready to make joint efforts with Comrade General Secretary Kim to further strengthen strategic guidance in relations between our two parties and countries, promote the development of our parties and states, continuously improve the well-being and friendship between our two peoples, and contribute to promoting peace, stability and development in the region and the world," Xi said in his congratulatory message.