Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Talks between Pak Thae Song, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on October 11.

Present at the talks from the DPRK side were Kim Song Nam, alternate member of the Political Bureau and director of the International Department of the WPK Central Committee, Jong Myong Su, vice-premier of the DPRK Cabinet, and other officials concerned.

Present there from the Chinese side were Wu Zhenglong, state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Liu Haixing, head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, and members of the delegation of the party and government of the PRC.

Pak Thae Song said that the visit to the DPRK by the delegation of the party and government of the PRC marked an important occasion in further consolidating and developing the friendly relations between the two countries, expressing the invariable stand of the Party and government of the DPRK to steadily carve out a new phase of friendship.

He extended firm support to the policy and stand of the Chinese party and government to firmly defend the core interests including the Taiwan issue and advance the cause of socialism, stressing that the DPRK would oppose hegemony and jointly defend fair international order and peace with the Chinese comrades.

Warmly congratulating once again the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese people, Li Qiang said it is the steadfast stand of the Chinese party and government to successfully consolidate, successfully defend and successfully develop the traditional China-DPRK friendly relations no matter how the international situation may change.

He noted that the both sides would positively promote the socialist cause, support and encourage each other in the multilateral arena and realize international fairness and justice.

The talks discussed the issues of strengthening strategic communication between the two parties and the two countries and promoting exchange and cooperation in all fields true to the noble intention of the top leaders of the DPRK and China.

The talks proceeded in a comradely and friendly atmosphere.

The WPK Central Committee and the DPRK government hosted a reception in welcome of the delegation of the party and government of the PRC on the same day. -0-