On October 4, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, held talks with his Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) counterpart Kim Yong Il in the Mansudae Assembly Hall, Pyongyang.
The China-DPRK friendship, created and fostered by the older generation of revolutionaries of the two countries, has withstood all tests of the changing times and has been constantly strengthened and improved, Wen said. This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic ties and coincides with the China-DPRK Friendship Year, he noted. The Chinese premier said that for the past six decades, China-DPRK relations have always maintained a sound momentum of development. China and the DPRK have offered each other political support and economic help and conducted cultural exchange. They have also coordinated with each other on multilateral issues and made positive contributions to their respective development and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole, the premier added.
A review of bilateral relations over the past six decades revealed several important points on the development of these ties. One is mutual respect and equality. The two countries have always respected each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the path of development of their own choice, Wen said. The other is mutual assistance to deepen their friendship. China has provided assistance within its power to the DPRK to help with its economic development and improve its people's lives; and likewise, the DPRK has offered help and support to China, Wen added. Still another is mutually beneficial cooperation that helps supply each other's needs and brings tangible benefit to the two peoples. Finally, to better coordinate with each other to help maintain peace and stability in the region, he said.
Wen emphasized that the purpose of summarizing history is to create a better future. China is ready to work with the DPRK to protect, consolidate and promote the friendly cooperative relations between the two nations in the spirit of "inheriting the tradition, facing the future, maintaining the good-neighborliness and friendship and enhancing cooperation" in order to bring benefits to their peoples and enhance regional stability and development. China will maintain exchanges with the DPRK side at all levels and in all fields, reinforce coordination with it on important issues, tap complementary advantages to heighten the level of their trade cooperation, and expand their cultural exchange to strengthen the social foundation of their friendly relations, Wen said.
Kim Yong Il congratulated Wen on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and wished Chinese people still greater success in implementing the scientific outlook on development and building a harmonious society under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. A great variety of celebration activities will be held to mark the China-DPRK Friendship Year and further develop the traditional friendship between the two nations, he said. The DPRK side has all along cherished its traditional friendship with China and has been grateful to China for its long-term support and assistance, he said. Kim hoped that both sides would take the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as a new start to push bilateral ties further forward. The DPRK side pledged to work with China to enhance exchanges at high and other levels, deepen political mutual trust and promote practical cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The DPRK was willing to maintain exchange and cooperation with China on regional and international issues and it welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, he added.
On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Wen said that China appreciated the DPRK's commitment to the objectives of making the Peninsula nuclear free. He stressed that such a commitment, which helps maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole, is in the interest of all the parties concerned, including the DPRK. It is the consensus of the international community that to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and consultation is the only way to solve the peninsula's nuclear issue, Wen said, pledging China's readiness to strengthen communication and coordination with the DPRK.
Kim Yong Il said it is the wish of late leader Kim Il Sung to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK side has never given up this wish, and is willing to hold bilateral and multilateral dialogues to this end, Kim said, adding that his country will continue to maintain close contact and coordination with China.
After the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of documents on bilateral cooperation in economic, technological and other fields. Both sides agreed to build a new highway bridge across the Yalu River that marks their border and decided to launch the work related to the construction of the bridge.