国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese party official's visit highlights China-DPRK friendship

On Sunday evening, Zhou attended a grand evening gala on Kim Il Sung Square, where nearly 100,000 Pyongyang citizens in traditional costumes formed various phalanxes.

On Saturday night, Zhou watched the performance of "Arirang," a mass gymnastic and artistic show with more than 100,000 performers, also an event marking the 65th WPK anniversary.

In a meeting with Zhou before the show, Kim Jong Il expressed gratitude over the congratulatory messages sent by Hu.

Zhou's visit, which was assigned by the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Hu, "is an aspiration and support" to the DPRK's revolutionary cause, said Kim.

Other senior DPRK leaders also met with Zhou.

"We believe that under new WPK leadership with Kim Jong Il as general secretary, the industrious and brave DPRK people will surely build a bright future for the country," Zhou said before watching the Arirang performance.

To welcome the Chinese delegation, DPRK students and artists gave a special performance featuring Chinese folklore.

MEETING WITH DPRK TOP LEADER

Kim Jong Il met with Zhou on Monday.

The ruling WPK is "very satisfied" with the healthy development of DPRK-China relations under the current complicated international situation, Kim told Zhou.

Kim noted that during his two visits to China this year, he and President Hu reached a series of important consensus on the crucial issues concerning the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, as well as other issues of common concern.

The DPRK top leader said he has asked his country's leadership not only to attach great importance to the consensus, but also implement them in their work.

Kim called on the two sides to further strengthen communication and coordination on strategic issues, and continuously expand the scope of bilateral economic cooperation while upgrading such cooperation to higher levels.

For his part, Zhou said this year has seen many landmark events in the history of relations between China and the DPRK.

Zhou said the top DPRK leader paid two visits to China in less than four months and exchanged views and reached consensus with President Hu on issues of common concern, which effectively boosted the deepening and development of relations of the two countries and parties.

The fact that the two top leaders spoke to each other heart to heart fully proved that China and the DPRK were intimate comrades and true friends, Zhou said.