International: On June 8 (Monday), ahead of his state visit to the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese President Xi Jinping published an article titled "Inheriting Tradition and Moving Forward Together Towards the Future: Writing a New Chapter of the Traditional Friendship Between China and the DPRK" in Rodong Sinmun, the country`s newspaper.

In the article, he said:
"This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. At the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers` Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, I will soon pay a state visit to the DPRK. This will be my return visit to the beautiful DPRK after seven years.

China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighbouring countries with shared interests. No matter how the times change and no matter how the international situation evolves, the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK has always remained unbreakable and has become stronger and more vibrant with the passage of time, and it will continue to do so.

Strategic guidance at the highest level is the greatest strength of China-DPRK relations. Historically, the senior leaders of China and the DPRK knew and understood each other well and maintained close ties. In recent years, I have met with Kim Jong Un six times, maintained close strategic communication, and jointly formulated plans for the development of China-DPRK relations. I firmly believe that, under the leadership and guidance of the top leaders, the ship of China-DPRK relations will surely move forward steadily, overcoming winds and waves.

The Communist Party of China and the Workers` Party of Korea are two Marxist ruling parties, and China and the DPRK are companions on the path of socialism. I firmly believe that both parties and states will jointly advance the development of their respective parties and countries and strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation. This will reinforce national prosperity and strength, enhance the happiness and security of the people, and demonstrate the remarkable advantages and bright prospects of socialism.

High-level strategic cooperation is of great significance to China-DPRK relations. Promoting long-term regional peace and world peace and stability is the common goal of both parties, both states, and the peoples of both countries. I firmly believe that by continuously deepening strategic cooperation, China and the DPRK will surely be able to move forward together on the correct path of peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation.

In recent years, in the face of rapidly changing global developments and a fluctuating international environment, China and the DPRK have focused on managing their own affairs well and have continued to work hard and struggle unremittingly on the socialist path. China has made a good start in implementing its current Five-Year Plan and is making vigorous efforts to open up new horizons for Chinese modernization, advancing with great strides towards the goal of the second centenary. Meanwhile, the Workers` Party of Korea has successfully convened its Ninth Congress, adopted strategic plans and important measures for the development of the Party and the state, and ushered in a new era of comprehensive socialist development.

At present, China-DPRK relations stand at a new historical starting point. China is willing to work with the DPRK from a strategic perspective to understand bilateral relations and promote greater development of bilateral ties in keeping with the times. For this purpose:

— Strategic communication should be further deepened, and the correct direction for the development of China-DPRK relations should be firmly maintained. Taking the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance as an opportunity, communication and exchanges among various departments and levels of the Party, government and military should be strengthened; important consensus reached by both sides should be implemented; and strong momentum should be injected into the development of China-DPRK relations;

— Exchanges and mutual learning should be strengthened, and the socialist causes of both countries should be jointly sustained in a stable and long-term manner. It is necessary to remain firm and strong under the full leadership of the Party, expand exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, and deepen exchanges of governance experience and mutual learning between the two sides;

— Practical cooperation should be expanded, and the well-being and friendship between the peoples of both countries should be continuously enhanced. Coordination of the development strategies of both countries should be strengthened; the potential for cooperation in all fields should be unleashed; opportunities should be shared; development should be promoted; and the peoples of both countries should be better served;

— Multilateral cooperation should be strengthened, and international justice should be firmly upheld. Strategic communication and coordination should be enhanced; the UN-centred international system and the international order based on international law should be jointly safeguarded; and hegemonism, power politics, the revival of militarism, and all acts that threaten regional security and stability should be opposed.

We are willing to join hands with our DPRK comrades, move forward together, and write a new chapter so that the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK may shine with even greater brilliance and make greater contributions to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity."

Source: Xinhua–Alim Tuhina, China Media Group.