Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) --Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a message of greeting to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, on the New Year's Day of 2024.

In the message the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, on behalf of the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK government and the Korean people, extended warm greetings to General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China, the government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese people on the occasion of the New Year 2024.

2024 is a significant year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the People’s Republic of China, the message said.

The two parties and governments of the DPRK and China have fixed this year as a "year of DPRK-China friendship", and this accords with the common expectation and desire of the peoples of the two countries to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation as demanded by the era at a time when socialist construction in the two countries has entered a new stage of progress and the international situation is complicated, the message added.

I am pleased to declare the beginning of the "year of DPRK-China friendship" together with Comrade General Secretary, and convinced that the invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship, forged and consolidated in the struggle for socialism, will be fully displayed this year, too, said the message.

Through the "year of DPRK-China friendship", the two parties and two countries will further promote exchange and visits in all fields, including politics, economy and culture, further deepen the ties of friendship and unity and intensify the cooperation in the joint struggle to safeguard regional and global peace and stability, thus adding a new page to the history of the DPRK-China relations, noted the message.

The message wished Xi Jinping good health in the new year, too, greater success in his responsible work of leading the party and the state, and the People's Republic of China prosperity and the Chinese people happiness. -0-