Chinese President Xi Jinping and the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un on Sunday exchanged congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK diplomatic relations.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said the traditional friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of capricious international situations and times over the past 70 years, noting that the exchanges and collaboration in various fields between China and the DPRK have played an important and positive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

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Xi said the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK is the precious wealth between the two parties, the two countries as well as the two peoples. To maintain, consolidate and develop China-DPRK ties is always the steadfast objective for the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government. 

"I highly value the development of China-DPRK ties and cherish the mutual trust and friendship I have with Chairman Kim," Xi said. 

Xi and Kim have met five times since last year and the two leaders have reached a series of important consensus. Xi said China is willing to work with the DPRK to push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties so as to benefit the two countries and their peoples. 

For his part, Kim said that DPRK-China relations have entered an important and crucial period, adding that it is an unswerving policy of DPRK's party and government to carry forward the DPRK-China friendship from generation to generation and realize all-round revitalization of the friendly cooperative ties between the two countries.