Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) -- An opening ceremony of the "year of DPRK-China friendship" took place at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on Friday.

Present at the opening ceremony were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, officials of the Central Committee of the WPK, ministries, and national agencies, officials concerned, working people, youth and students in Pyongyang.

Present there were members of the party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) headed by Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, members of the Chinese art troupe, Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy members and Chinese guests staying here.

When the opening was declared, the national anthems of the DPRK and the PRC were solemnly played.

Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, made a speech.

He warmly welcomed the Chinese party and government delegation led by Zhao Leji on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK to take part in the opening ceremony of the "year of DPRK-China friendship" in 2024 and the Chinese art troupe, which will add another brilliant page to the history of the DPRK-China friendly relations, on behalf of the Central Committee of the WPK, the government and people of the DPRK.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and the respected Comrade Xi Jinping declared this year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations the "year of DPRK-China friendship" out of their unshakable will to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with socialism as the core, he said, adding that the DPRK-China friendship is an invincible friendship and precious common wealth forged in blood and developed in the long journey for accomplishing the cause of independence against imperialism, peace and socialism.

Noting that permeated into the lands of the two countries were the blood shed by the revolutionary forerunners, sung and unsung, who unhesitatingly dedicated their youth and lives to the freedom and liberation of the fraternal peoples and territorial integrity and many touching stories tell about their militant friendship and fraternal affection, he added that the DPRK-China relations are, indeed, valuable and precious not only because the two countries are geographically close but also because they have been forged and consolidated in the arduous struggle for the common cause.

He said that the DPRK-China friendship has greeted a new heyday under the wise leadership and special care of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries.

To significantly commemorate the "year of the DPRK-China friendship" at a time when the DPRK-China relations are being firmly carried forward and their vitality fully demonstrated serves as a powerful motive force for promoting the rapid development of the DPRK-China friendship and further strengthening mutual support and cooperation for the socialist cause, he noted.

The greater progress the two countries make towards a new horizon of building powerful countries under the uplifted banner of socialism, the more vicious the imperialists will be in their obstructive moves, he said, adding that this calls for the two parties and two countries to give full play to the might of militant friendship and unity which have been consolidated century after century. He expressed the steadfast stand and will of the WPK and the DPRK government to steadily and vigorously develop the DPRK-China friendly relations whose true colors survived all challenges and tempests of history.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, made a speech.

Saying that he was pleased to hold an opening ceremony of the "year of China-DPRK friendship" together with the Korean comrades in the year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the DPRK, he extended warm greetings and best wishes to the party, government and people of the DPRK on behalf of the Chinese party, government and people.

China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors of socialism linked by the same mountain and rivers, he said, adding that, looking back upon the past, both sides had their great militant friendship sealed in blood while sharing their destiny and have defended the common interests and justice of the international community by getting firmly united with all sincerity.

He said that the traditional China-DPRK friendship, personally provided and strengthened by the leaders of the elder generation of the two parties and two countries, has taken deeper root and become more durable and precious no matter the ever-changing international situation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un have indicated the orientation, paved the path and unfolded a blueprint for the China-DPRK relations, while carrying forward the past and foreseeing the future, in order to provide the fundamental guidelines and inexhaustible driving force for the development of the relations, he noted.

Noting that the Chinese side is sincerely pleased with the rich successes made in the development of the China-DPRK relations in the new period and under the new situation, he stressed that it is the consistent strategic policy of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the traditional China-DPRK friendly relations.

Zhao Leji expressed the steadfast will of the Chinese party and government to thoroughly implement the important common understanding shared by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, deepen the strategic mutual trust and promote exchange and cooperation on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the "year of China-DPRK friendship" and thus open up a new chapter of China-DPRK friendship along with the times.

Then an opening-ceremony joint performance was given by prestigious art troupes of the two countries.

Put on the stage were colorful numbers prepared with sincerity by artistes of the two countries to significantly decorate the opening of the "year of the DPRK-China friendship".

The performers impressively represented with rich and tested artistry and ensemble the noble patriotic spirit, revolutionary mettle, noble traits and customs the peoples of the two countries fully displayed in the struggle of the past decades while cherishing the validity and truth of the socialist cause as their faith.

The numbers performed by artistes of the two countries together revved up the atmosphere of performance.

Through the Chinese song "The Fluttering Red Flag" and the Korean songs "Our National Flag" and "DPRK-China Friendship Will Be Immortal" which demonstrated the invincibility and immutability of the DPRK-China friendship and unity and decorated the climax of performance, the performers sang of the truth that the DPRK-China friendship, symbolic of the will, history and future of the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries, will remain steadfast decade after decade.

The performance, overflowing with deep emotion and pleasure and deepening friendship, was acclaimed by the audience.

Floral baskets were conveyed to the performers in congratulation of their successful performance.

Choe Ryong Hae and Zhao Leji mounted the stage to congratulate the artistes on their successful performance and have a photo taken with them. -0-

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