Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a major diplomatic action that comes as the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and the international situation is seeing complex and profound changes, Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said on Friday. 

According to Song, the visit that coincides with the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the DPRK and is Xi's first trip to the neighboring country since he became the Chinese president and general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, bears key significance for the development of the bilateral ties.

The DPRK attached a great importance to Xi's visit and received the Chinese leader with grand and warm welcome, Song noted, saying that Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the airport, and accompanied the couple for various activities during the visit.

The two leaders had on multiple occasions conducted friendly, frank and in-depth exchanges, and have reached key consensus on writing new chapters for the China-DPRK friendship and safeguarding peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, said Song. 

Xi's trip, said the senior Chinese official, has realized not only the historical exchange of visits by the top leaders of the two parties and countries in such an important year as the one that marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the DPRK, but also the 5th gathering between them in 15 months, adding that it will be a much-told story in the two countries' high-level exchanges.

During the visit, the two leaders exchanged in-depth views on the socialist construction of their respective countries, said Song, adding that Xi spoke highly of the positive achievements made by the DPRK in implementing its new strategic line. 

Xi stressed that China firmly supports the DPRK in pursuing a development path in line with its national conditions, adding that China stands ready to deepen exchanges and mutual learning with the DPRK on party and state governance so as to push forward the socialist construction of the two countries.

Kim expressed deep gratitude to Xi, noting that the Chinese leader's close attention to the DPRK's socialist construction as well as its development in economy and livelihood has strengthened the confidence of the party and people of the DPRK in their cause, Song said.

On the Korean Peninsula issue, the two leaders had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the current situation on the peninsula as well as how to maintain the monentum of the dialogue process, Song said. 

Xi spoke highly of the DPRK's efforts to promote the denuclearization of the peninsula and relaunch the process of a political settlement of the issue, stressing that China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the DPRK and other related parties on the issue so as to safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in the region. 

For his part, Kim thanked Xi for his positive remarks and said the DPRK will stay patient and control the situation to safeguard peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and create a favorable external environment for the DPRK's development.