ＤＰＲＫＣＦＡ Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ Ｖｉｓｉｔｓ Ｃｈｉｎａ

Ｈｏｎｇ　Ｌｅｉ

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the China-Korea (DPRK) Friendship Association (CKFA) and the DPRK-China Friendship Association (DPRKCFA), a 6-member delegation of the DPRKCFA with Choe Chang Sik, chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRKCFA and minister of public health, as the leader visited China from September 16 to 20 at the invitation of the CPAFFC. Abdulahat Abdurixit, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, met with the delegation. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu, CKFA President Wu Donghe, Minister of Health Chen Zhu and former CKFA President Li Shuzheng met with or entertained the delegation on separate occasions. The delegation attended the banquet in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the friendship organizations of the two countries hosted by the CPAFFC and the DPRK Folk Art Exhibition jointly sponsored by the CKFA and the DPRKCFA, and visited the China-Korea Friendship Hongxing Farm and the Beijing No. 5 Middle School. The delegation also made a trip to Tianjin where Zhang Daning, vice chairman of the Tianjin Municipal Peoples Political Consultative Conference, met with the delegation and hosted a banquet in its honour.

China-DPRK Friendship

Vice Chairman Abdulahat Abdurixit met with the delegation on September 19 in the Great Hall of the People. He said, Sino-Korean friendship has been forged and cultivated by the older generation of leaders of our two countries. In the new century, bilateral relations enjoy continuous and fast growth, which has forcefully safeguarded the common interests of our two peoples and promoted peace and development in the region. The vice chairman spoke highly of the positive contributions made by the two friendship associations to consolidating and developing friendship between the two peoples. He hoped that they would continue to play an important role in the future. Choe Chang Sik, leader of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government and people for their support and assistance to the DPRK over the years. He said, at present, the Korean army and people, united as one under the leadership of General Kim Jong Il, are striving to build their fatherland into a prosperous country by 2012.

CPAFFC President Chen Haosu said when meeting with the delegation, in recent years, the friendship associations of China and the DPRK, in solidarity and cooperation, have made due contributions to enhancing the friendship between the two countries and their peoples. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the CKFA and the DPRKCFA, it is of far-reaching significance that we hold celebrations here in Beijing. By reviewing the history and looking into the future, we will work together to make fresh contributions to the lasting friendship between our two countries. Choe Chang Sik said: “This is my first visit to China as chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRKCFA. The Chinese side has made careful arrangement for us. During the visit, we conducted extensive exchanges with various friendship units and had the opportunity to tour the Olympic Green and take the high-speed train between Beijing and Tianjin. We are very happy to see the development and changes in China.” He thanked the Chinese side for the meticulous arrangement and warm hospitality and said that in the future the DPRKCFA would strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side and bring benefit to the people of the two countries through practical cooperation.

CKFA President Wu Donghe accompanied the delegation throughout its visit in China. He said, 2008 is a memorable year. We have just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea together with our Korean comrades, now we are greeting the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the friendship associations of the two countries. It is of great historic significance that the two organizations jointly hold the celebrations. Wu emphasized, the CKFA will continue to work for the friendship between China and the DPRK in the spirit of “carrying on the tradition with a view to the future, being good and friendly neighbours and enhancing cooperation” so as to bring substantial benefits to our two peoples. He also informed the Korean guests about the social and economic development of China in recent years during their visit. Choe Chang Sik extended congratulations to Wu Donghe on his becoming the president of the CKFA and thanked him for accompanying the delegation during its visit in China. He expressed the belief that the two friendship associations will take 2009, the Year of China-DPRK Friendship, as an opportunity to forge closer ties and increase cooperation between them to contribute more to DPRK-China friendship.

When meeting with Choe Chang Sik, Minister Chen Zhu affirmed the achievements scored in cooperation between the health ministries of the two countries in recent years and said that China will continue to provide necessary assistance to the DPRK within its capability. Choe Chang Sik expressed gratitude to the Chinese Ministry of Health for its efforts to promote the development of public health undertakings in the DPRK and China and the exchanges and training of personnel in the field of health. He hoped that China would continue its help in the future.

Celebrations

On the evening of September 16, the Chinese side hosted a banquet to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the CKFA and the DPRKCFA. Before the banquet, Chinese singers and dancers performed Chinese and Korean songs and dances, adding an atmosphere of festivity. More than 50 people from various circles of the two countries were present.

During the delegations stay in China, the DPRK Folk Art Exhibition co-sponsored by the CKFA and the DPRKCFA was mounted in Beijing. On display were 31 works by over 20 artists of the Mansudae Creation Company (art studio). Through a variety of ways of creation, the artists showed the rich and colourful folk customs and culture of the DPRK and their high artistic attainment.

Visits

The delegation visited the Beijing No. 5 Middle School. It had a cordial talk with the school authority and met with all the teachers and students of the Kim Il Sung Class. Choe Chang Sik said, as the symbol of DPRK-China friendship, the Kim Il Sung Class of the Beijing No. 5 Middle School and the Mao Zedong Class of East Pyongyang No. 1 Senior Middle School have formed a chapter of passing on friendship from generation to generation in the annals of China-DPRK relations. He thanked the Kim Il Sung Class for their contributions in this regard. He added, invited by the CPAFFC, the East Pyongyang No. 1 Senior Middle School paid a visit to China this year. The delegation sat in classes and learnt the excellent teaching experience of the Beijing No. 5 Middle School, making a good beginning of practical exchanges between the two schools. He hoped that such exchanges would be continued in the future. President Wu Donghe encouraged the teachers and students of the Kim Il Sung Class to carry forward the tradition of friendship between the two countries with the sense of honour, responsibility and mission.

At the China-DPRK Friendship Hongxing Farm, the delegation listened to the introduction and had a group picture taken in front of the tree planted by Vice Chairman Ye Jianying and President Kim Il Sung. Choe Chang Sik noted, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the visit by our beloved Premier Zhou Enlai to the Korea-China Friendship Thaekam Cooperative Farm and also the 50th anniversary of the naming of the farm. The exchange of delegations between the two farms had significant importance.

Just before the conclusion of the Beijing Paralympics, the delegation visited the Olympic Green Common Domain. The leader of the delegation Choe said happily after the visit: “I watched the grand opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games on TV in DPRK. I have not expected that I would be here in person so soon.” He spoke highly of the facilities of the Olympic venues and congratulated China on the success of the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics.

The delegation made a trip to Tianjin to visit the Cathy Future Childrens Art Troupe and watched a show given by the young performers. Organized and sent by the CPAFFC, the art troupe took part in the International Childrens Camp in Songdowon, DPRK in 2007 and carried out cultural exchanges, injecting new vitality to Sino-Korean friendship in the new period. The head of the art troupe hoped that a Korean childrens art troupe would participate in the Tianjin International Childrens Culture & Art Festival which would be held in 2009.

Choe Chang Sik said, through the visit they gained a deeper understanding of “building China into a well-off and socialist society with Chinese characteristics in an all-round way by thoroughly applying the scientific outlook on development” put forward by the Communist Party of China.