On June 20, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the State, attended a welcome banquet held at the Mulan Pavilion of Pyongyang by Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Korean Labour Party and State Council. This is Xi Jinping's speech at the banquet.

       On June 20, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the State, attended a welcome banquet held at the Mulan Pavilion of Pyongyang by Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Korean Labour Party and State Council.

       The magnificent Mulan Pavilion is full of bright lights and guests, brimming with a solemn and festive atmosphere.

       At about 7 p.m., Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan entered the banquet hall accompanied by Kim Jong-un and his wife Li Xuezhu. The audience stood up and applauded warmly for a long time.

       The welcome banquet began. Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un addressed the banquet separately.

Kim Jong-un said that today, with great joy, we welcome the most respected Chinese guests, General Secretary Xi Jinping and Ms. Peng Liyuan. In the process of jointly building socialism, the DPRK and China have already formed a fine tradition of solidarity and mutual support and cooperation. Through four meetings in the past year, I and Comrade General Secretary affirmed that adhering to the socialist system is the core of maintaining DPRK-China friendship. Today, Comrade Xi Jinping's visit to the DPRK has opened a new and splendid page of DPRK-China friendship. Just now, I had an in-depth exchange of views with Comrade General Secretary on further developing and strengthening DPRK-China friendship and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the new era, and reached important consensus. I firmly believe that under the firm leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people will make new and great achievements in the process of developing socialism. As always, the DPRK will move forward side by side with China and write a new chapter of DPRK-China friendship and cooperation.

       In his speech, Xi pointed out that looking back on the 70-year history of Sino-DPRK relations, the elder leaders of both sides personally created the traditional friendship between China and DPRK, leaving us a common precious wealth. Despite the vicissitudes of the sea and the vicissitudes of events, the friendship between China and the DPRK has been strong for a long time. Just now, I held fruitful talks with Chairman Kim Jong-un to jointly draw a better future for China-DPRK relations and reach a series of important consensus. We agree that China and DPRK should unswervingly inherit and carry forward the traditional friendship and continue to write a new chapter of the times. We agree that the political settlement of the Peninsula issue is the aspiration of the people and the general trend of the times. We should continue to hold high the banner of peaceful dialogue and make new and greater contributions to regional and even world peace, stability and prosperity.

       Xi Jinping pointed out that under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong-un, the DPRK party and people are now implementing a new strategic line, concentrating their efforts on economic development and improving people's livelihood, which has set off a new upsurge in socialist construction in DPRK. We firmly believe that under the leadership of the DPRK Labor Party headed by Chairman Kim Jong-un, the DPRK's socialist cause will continue to achieve new and greater achievements. China is ready to work with the DPRK to jointly create a bright future of lasting peace and common prosperity in China-DPRK relations and the region.

       In a warm and friendly atmosphere, guests and hosts share friendship, dialogue and cooperation, and wish China-DPRK relations continued to develop.

       Before the banquet, Xi Jinping paid tribute to all the members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Korean Labour Party at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Korean Labour Party. The Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of Mass Organizations of the CPC Central Committee presented flowers to the couple of General Secretary Xi Jinping. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the couple of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong-un took pictures with you.

       Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng participated in the above activities.

The leaders of the DPRK party and state attended the welcome banquet were Cui Longhai, Park Fengzhu, Jin Cailong, Li Yonghao, Li Wanjian, Park Guanghao, Li Suyong, Jin Pinghai, Cui Hui, Wu Shouyong, An Zhengxiu, Park Taicheng, Park Taicheng, Jin Yingzhe, Jin Xiuji, Tai Hengche, Lu Douzhe, Cui Furi, Zhao Yongyuan, Nuguang Tie, Jin Dexun, Lee Long Man, Jin Nenghao, Jin and Zheng.

       Source: People's Daily