Display of the lively relationship

Last May Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, paid an unofficial visit to China at the invitation of Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China. In August last the Korean leader paid another historic visit to northeast China while passing it through on August 25-27, 2011 on his way home after winding up his tour of the Siberian and Far Eastern regions of Russia. This is a clear sign of the determination of the Korean Party, government and people to further strengthen and develop the traditional Korea-China friendship.

Kim Jong Il, while passing through the northeastern region of China, went round a number of places in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. He looked round Hailar District, Hulun Buir City of the region, which is the largest city in the world in terms of area, and enjoyed its night view, acquainting himself with the history and culture of the region and the achievements made by the local people in construction.

While passing through Heilongjiang Province the Korean leader went to see the Qiqihar Machine-tool Group No. 2 that manufactures different kinds of CNC machine-tools, and the Qiqihar branch of the Mengniu Dairy that is the biggest milk producer in China, in the city of Qiqihar which is the oldest industrial base in northeast China. In the province he also visited Daqing City, where he looked round the city planning exhibition hall, a housing development, a large bridge, Lake Liming Bridge under construction and other places.

Kim Jong Il passed through Jilin Province that he visited in August last year and in May this year. In the province, he went to Tonghua City which is well known in China as "City of Ginseng" and "City of Wine." Looking round the Tonghua Wine Co. Ltd., he recalled to his mind the historic visit to the company by President Kim Il Sung nearly half a century ago. Going round various places including the wine depot and the exhibition hall, he learned in detail about the history of the factory, its production system, storage of products and its taste, and wished the company greater progress in its work for the well-being of the people.

Kim Jong Il was accorded sincere and warm welcome by senior officials from Beijing and the region and the people of China wherever he went while passing through northeast China for three days. Dai Bingguo, state councilor of the People's Republic of China, greeted Kim Jong Il kindly in Heilongjiang Province upon the special authorization of General Secretary Hu Jintao and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Dai Bingguo said that northeast China receiving Kim Jong Il again after the lapse of three months was now wrapped in a festive atmosphere, and offered warm welcome to the Korean leader on behalf of General Secretary Hu Jintao, the leadership of the Communist Party of China and all the Chinese people.

Kim Jong Il was conducted by Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Sheng Guangzu, minister of Railways, during his transit and visit to northeast China. Wang Jiarui said he was specially dispatched to conduct Kim Jong Il who was passing through northeast China in the whole period of his visit upon the authorization of the leadership of China including Hu Jintao. He paid highest tribute to Kim Jong Il for having made a great contribution to boosting the friendship among countries and the human cause of independence through his energetic external activities.

Senior officials of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces, and the local people gave grand banquets in honour of Kim Jong Il, arranged and staged special artistic performances and presented gifts to him. At a banquet Hu Chunhua, secretary of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Regional Party Committee, said that they welcomed Kim Jong Il to the vast steppe where President Kim Il Sung had been accorded enthusiastic welcome several times long before, thereby seeing the desire of the party, the government and the people of the autonomous region come true at last. Ji Bingxuan, secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee, noted that Kim Jong Il's historic visit to Heilongjiang Province again after the lapse of three months was a striking demonstration of the Sino-DPRK friendship growing stronger day by day, adding that the provincial party, government and people would join the Korean people in playing a greater role in inheriting and developing the Sino-DPRK friendship generation after generation. Sun Zhengcai, secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, said that it was particular privilege and honour for his province to have received Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the Korean people, three times in a little over a year. He offered the highest regard and warm welcome to Kim Jong Il on behalf of the party, government and people of the province. He expressed expectation and belief that the Korean people would surely win a shining victory in the cause of building a prosperous and powerful socialist nation under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea headed by Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il's transit and visit to northeast China was another important occasion in powerfully demonstrating the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the parties and countries of the DPRK and China and further cementing the ties of friendship between the two peoples.

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