China's top legislator presents Xi's letter to DPRK leader

Li Zhanshu (L), special representative of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, presents a signed letter from Xi to Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, the DPRK, Sept. 9, 2018.(Xinhua/Li Tao)

 China's top legislator on Sunday presented a signed letter from General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, is on a visit to the DPRK starting from Saturday as Xi's special representative to attend the activities marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK.

Xi said in the letter that the DPRK, under the successive leadership of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, has made extraordinary achievements on the course of the socialist construction in the past 70 years.

At present, DPRK's socialist construction has taken on a new look in various fields as the country concentrates on the economic development and improvement of people's livelihood under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, Xi said.

It is an unswerving policy of the CPC and the Chinese government to safeguard, consolidate and develop China-DPRK relations, Xi said in the letter.

Xi said that he and Kim had reached important consensus during their three meetings this year, opening a new chapter in the development of China-DPRK relations.

Xi said he is willing to work with Kim to strengthen the guidance of China-DPRK relations, implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders and push for greater progress in bilateral ties.

Noting that the 70th founding anniversary is a big event for the DPRK, Li said President Xi attaches great importance to the event and dispatched a delegation to Pyongyang to send China's warm congratulations.

This year is of special historic significance for China-DPRK relations, said Li, adding that the three meetings between Xi and Kim had ushered in a new historic stage of the bilateral ties.

No matter how the international and regional situation changes, China's firm commitment to the consolidation and development of bilateral ties will not change, nor will Chinese people's friendship towards their DPRK peers or China's support to DPRK's socialist course, Li said.

Li said his visit aims to implement the important consensus between Xi and Kim, enhance high-level strategic communication, carry out friendly exchanges in various fields and have in-depth exchanges of views on further development of the traditional friendship so as to create a better future for the China-DPRK ties.

On the Korean Peninsula issue, Li said that achieving lasting peace and denuclearization of the Peninsula accords with the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people.

China commits to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the region and solving problems through dialogue and consultation, said Li.

"We have high regards of the efforts the DPRK has made towards regional peace and stability," said Li, adding that he hopes the DPRK and the United Sates could implement the outcomes of their summit, work jointly to preserve the general trend of peaceful talks.

Li said China is willing to work with relevant parties and play a constructive role toward a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Kim expressed his appreciation for Xi's letter and asked Li to convey greetings and best wishes to Xi.

Kim said Li's visit symbolized the deep friendship from the Chinese side and touched the WPK, the DPRK government and its people.

The traditional friendship created and nurtured by the the older generations of leaders of both countries has been the most valuable treasure, Kim said.

Recalling his three meetings with Xi, Kim said he felt in person the valuable and warm DPRK-China friendship, adding that the DPRK will firmly carry on and do its best to develop the friendship no matter how the international situation changes.

The DPRK is carrying out the new strategic line and focusing on the development of economy, said Kim, adding that his country expects to learn from China and further expand exchanges and cooperation in different fields so as to jointly promote the socialist course in both countries.

Kim said the DPRK adheres to the consensus reached during the DPRK-U.S. summit and has taken measures in this regard while the U.S. side should take corresponding actions to jointly promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.