President Xi Jinping (right) holds talks with Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Beijing, capital of China, on June 19, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message of congratulations to Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on the 73rd anniversary of the DPRK's founding.

In his message, Xi noted that since the founding of DPRK, the WPK has led the North Korean people to make relentless efforts and realize great achievements in advancing the socialist cause and that China "feels happy from the bottom of our heart as a comrade and friend."North Korean people are thoroughly implementing the policies made at the 8th Congress of the WPK and pushing forward economic and social development. We believe that the North Korean people, under the strong leadership of the WPK Central Committee headed by Kim, will forge ahead in unity and build their country into a better one, Xi said. 

Xi noted the China-North Korean traditional friendship has kept growing stronger over time and has become a precious treasure for both countries. Xi said he has kept close communications with Kim in recent years and guided bilateral ties to steadily move forward, and helped continuously produce gratifying results, which has further enriched the China-North Korea traditional friendship.

"I attach great importance to China-North Korean relations, and am willing to work with Kim to push bilateral ties for steady and sustained development and lift the ties to higher levels, so as to create more benefits for both countries and their people," Xi said. 

2021 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. On July 11, Xi and Kim exchanged messages to mark the anniversary.

In the message in July, Xi highlighted that leaders of the older generation of China and North Korea made the far-sighted strategic decision to sign the treaty, which laid important political and legal foundations for consolidating the friendship the two peoples had forged with blood. 

Kim said the signing of the treaty demonstrated to the world the firm will of the two parties as well as the governments and people of the two countries to promote long-term development of bilateral friendship forged with blood on a solid legal basis. 

The two countries have also coordinated closely and supported each other on international matters, especially amid US threats and sanctions, observers said. 

China has always been active to push forward a fair plan of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula while DPRK has been supporting China and Russia's stance on World War II narrative, including urging Japan to recognize its crimes, observers said. 

North Korea held a series of celebrations to commemorate its founding anniversary. A military parade was held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang with the attendance of Kim Jong-un and other North Korean leaders, media reported. 

Global Times