Xi, Kim vow to carry forward friendship

The top leaders of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea agreed on Tuesday that the two countries should carry forward their great traditional friendship from generation to generation.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, made the remarks as Xi paid homage to the China-DPRK Friendship Tower with his wife, Peng Liyuan, accompanied by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

Xi and Kim also agreed that the years when China and the DPRK fought side by side in the 1950s are an eternal historical memory shared by both countries.

The two leaders pledged to jointly maintain memorial facilities dedicated to the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs, carry out distinctive programs on revolutionary traditions and youth education, and carry forward the great spirit of the War to Resist United States Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53).

On Tuesday morning, Xi, accompanied by Kim, also visited the Central Cadres Training School of the WPK in Pyongyang.

In the wooded area between teaching buildings, Xi and Kim jointly planted a fir tree. The fir tree remains evergreen throughout the year, symbolizing the enduring and ever-renewing friendship between China and the DPRK.

Before departing for Beijing, Xi and Peng attended a luncheon hosted by Kim and Ri.

Xi said that he reached an important consensus with Kim on developing relations between China and the DPRK in the new era.

The two sides also had in-depth discussions on safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world, Xi said.

Xi thanked Kim for the warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements for the visit, noting that through the visit, the warmth and friendship extended by the WPK and the DPRK government and people toward the CPC and the Chinese government and people are felt even more deeply.

The mutual understanding between China and the DPRK has become deeper and more comprehensive, and the future development direction has become clearer and more definite, Xi said.

He also said that he is ready to work with Kim to jointly lead China-DPRK relations toward greater development and inject new and strong impetus into the socialist cause of the two countries.

Kim said that Xi's visit was a complete success, sending a positive message to the world that the DPRK and China are strengthening their friendly cooperation further, attracting widespread attention from various sides.

Xi's visit was of great significance to bilateral relations and the future development of the region, Kim said, noting that the DPRK stands ready to earnestly implement the important consensus reached during the visit, promote new tangible outcomes in bilateral cooperation, and advance DPRK-China relations to a new and higher level.

On Tuesday afternoon, Xi returned to Beijing after concluding his two-day state visit to the DPRK. Kim and his wife went to the airport to see Xi and his wife off, holding a grand farewell ceremony in their honor.

Xinhua — China Daily