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, on April 13 received the Party and government delegation of the People’s Republic of China headed by Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC, on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK to commemorate the Year of DPRK-China Friendship.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly greeted the members of the Chinese delegation at the headquarters building of the Central Committee of the WPK, warmly welcomed their visit to the DPRK and had a photo taken with them.

He had a friendly and constructive talk with the members of the delegation.

At the meeting Zhao Leji courteously conveyed the warm greetings from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC and president of the PRC, to Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un expressed thanks for this and asked Zhao Leji to convey his best wishes to the respected Comrade Xi Jinping.

He said that the current visit to Pyongyang by the Chinese Party and government delegation, which followed the proclamation of this significant year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and China as a Year of DPRK-China Friendship, is of very weighty significance in demonstrating the invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship and further developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as required by the times. Highly appreciating that the event for making public the important beginning of the important year was conspicuous, successful and glorious with the participation of a high-ranking delegation and a large-scale art troupe of China, he extended sincere thanks to General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Chinese Party and government for their great sincerity to make sure that a good occasion has been marked with splendour once again.

Saying in an excited tone that he personally felt during his stay in Pyongyang the special care by Kim Jong Un, cordial hospitality by the Party and the government of the DPRK and its people’s profound friendly feelings, Zhao Leji expressed his heartfelt deep thanks to Kim Jong Un for attaching utmost importance and paying deep attention to the delegation so that it could achieve the greatest success during the visit.

Kim Jong Un candidly discussed with Zhao Leji the issue of boosting the multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation for developing the friendly and cooperative relations, an asset of the two parties and two countries, into more viable ties, occasioned by the Year of DPRK-China Friendship, and other important issues of mutual concern.

Kim Jong Un affirmed that it is his consistent stand and the invariable and steadfast policy of the WPK and the government of the DPRK to develop the long-standing DPRK-China friendship decade after decade and century after century, expressing his expectation that the common will of the two parties and the two countries to dynamically promote the socialist cause and provide their peoples with substantial well-being by steadily carrying forward and developing these durable traditions of friendship would lead to responsible progress and successful fruition of the Year of DPRK-China Friendship.

Offering sincere congratulations to the Chinese Party, government and people for registering remarkable successes in the struggle for implementing the tasks set forth at the 20th Congress of the CPC, he expressed his hope that the fraternal Chinese people would make a more brilliant step forward in carrying out the historic task for building a modern and powerful socialist country in this year marking the 75th founding anniversary of the PRC under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

The talk proceeded in a kindly, sincere and comradely atmosphere.

On the same day Kim Jong Un hosted a luncheon for the Party and government delegation of the PRC.

Present there were Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, Ri Il Hwan, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Song Nam, department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the Central Committee of the WPK.

At the luncheon, Kim Jong Un proposed a toast to the eternal development of socialism in the two countries, longevity and good health of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the successful DPRK visit of the Party and government delegation of the PRC led by Zhao Leji.

Kim Jong Un had pleasant chats with Zhao Leji and other members of the delegation in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere, further deepening friendship.

The luncheon proceeded in a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

After the luncheon was over, Kim Jong Un warmly saw off the members of the delegation.