Six years have passed since Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, paid his first historic visit to the People’s Republic of China.

His lightning visit to China from March 25 to 28, Juche 107 (2018) was an epochal event which laid a foundation for developing the friendly relations between the DPRK and China to a higher level based on the long history and tradition.

With a strong will to remain true to the DPRK-China friendship, a priceless legacy bequeathed by President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il , and inherit and develop the bilateral relations in a wonderful way down through the generations, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited China as his first foreign tour.

President Xi Jinping and other senior officials of the party and government of China warmly welcomed Kim Jong Un who visited their country with a noble mission to usher in a new heyday of the traditional bilateral friendship as required by the changed times, and accorded him sincere hospitality.

The top leaders of the two countries had meetings in a frank, constructive and serious atmosphere to exchange in-depth views on such important issues as the development of friendly relations.

Kim Jong Un stressed the need to often meet Xi Jinping and other Chinese comrades to build up rapport and strengthen strategic communication and strategic and tactical cooperation so as to consolidate the unity and cooperation between the two countries.

Xi Jinping emphasized that it is the strategic selection and steadfast will of the Chinese party and government to attach importance to and carry forward the China-DPRK friendship which was provided and brought up with great care by the leaders of older generations in the course of making contribution to the victorious advance of the socialist cause with the common ideals and faith and deep revolutionary friendship.

Close friendship and trust between the top leaders of the two countries were fully demonstrated in a grand banquet prepared by Xi Jinping in honour of Kim Jong Un .

At the banquet held in an amicable atmosphere was staged an art performance specially prepared by the Chinese entertainers to welcome the historic visit of the DPRK leader to China.

The first visit of Kim Jong Un to China left a number of impressive scenes showing the invaluable comradeship forged by blood and invariably carried forward century after century.

Through the historic meetings and talks in March six years ago the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un established special relations of friendship with President Xi Jinping and provided an epochal milestone to develop the bilateral friendly relations in the new era as desired by the peoples of the two countries.

After his first visit to China, the relations between the two countries greeted a new phase of rapid development.

The top leaders had significant meetings in Beijing and Dalian of China and Pyongyang of the DPRK, through which they strengthened the strategic communications and consolidated the foundations for developing the friendly relations, the common treasure and selection of the Korean and Chinese peoples, even in complicated international situations.

The parties and peoples of both countries have vigorously advanced the socialist cause, braving severe trials and ordeals, on the strength of the invincible unity, thus eloquently proving that they can overcome whatever difficulties when they inherit the excellent and great history and tradition of bilateral friendship and join efforts on the road to independence and justice.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un ’s first visit to China in spring six years ago, filled with joy and hope, is remembered by the Korean and Chinese peoples as a historic occasion that confirmed full fruition of the development of the friendly relations between the DPRK and China.

Sung Ryong