President hails ties as DPRK marks its 73rd anniversary

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that he highly values developing China's relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and stands ready to work with DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un to promote the sustainable growth of bilateral friendship and cooperation in order to benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a message of congratulations to Kim, who is general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, on the 73rd anniversary of the DPRK's founding.

In the message, Xi said the WPK has led the DPRK people in making great achievements in promoting the socialist cause through unremitting efforts over the past 73 years. The Chinese people rejoice in the great accomplishments of their DPRK comrades and friends, he said.

Noting that the DPRK people are now making all-out efforts to promote economic and social development, Xi said he believed that they will forge ahead in unity and build a better country under the strong leadership of the WPK led by Kim.

Xi stressed that the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK has withstood the test of time and grown even stronger, saying that it is treasured by both sides.

Xi said that in recent years, he and Kim have kept in close contact and jointly guided the China-DPRK relationship to steadily move forward and achieve fruitful results. This has enriched the traditional China-DPRK friendship, he added.

The last interaction between the two leaders was in mid-July when Xi and Kim exchanged congratulatory messages on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.