Pyongyang, June 9 (KCNA) -- The Korean people are warmly welcoming the goodwill mission of the fraternal Chinese people on a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as the greatest state guest.

A ceremony took place at Kim Il Sung Square on June 8 to welcome Comrade Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China.

Seen at the square with the national flags of the DPRK and China fluttering were the guard of honor and the honorary cavalry of the Korean People's Army and the Central Military Band of the Ministry of National Defence.

Attending the ceremony were Pak Thae Song, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., Workers' Party of Korea, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, Jo Yong Won, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Jae Ryong and Ri Il Hwan, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., WPK, Kim Song Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., WPK, Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, and Kim Su Gil, chief secretary of the Pyongyang Municipal Committee of the WPK.

Pyongyang citizens, youth and students and children were standing with national flags of the two countries and flowers.

Comrade 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, came to the venue for the ceremony.

Comrade Xi Jinping's private car arrived at Kim Il Sung Square.

Amid the playing of welcome music, Comrade Kim Jong Un, together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, warmly greeted Comrade Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.

Comrade Kim Jong Un introduced to Comrade Xi Jinping senior Party, government and military officials of the DPRK.

Comrade Kim Jong Un exchanged greetings with entourage members of the Chinese side including Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, member of the Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee and minister of Foreign Affairs, Liu Haixing, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, Tang Fangyu, director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, Dong Jun, minister of National Defence of the PRC, Zeng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Committee of the PRC, and Wang Wentao, minister of Commerce of the PRC.

A ceremony of welcoming Comrade Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, began.

A 21-gun salute was fired amid the solemn playing of the national anthems of the PRC and the DPRK.

Comrade Xi Jinping received a salute from the chief of the KPA guard of honor.

Guided by Comrade Kim Jong Un, Comrade Xi Jinping reviewed the KPA guard of honor.

There took place a march-past of the KPA guard of honor.

When the welcoming ceremony was over, loud cheers were raised.

Comrade Xi Jinping expressed heartfelt thanks to the Korean Party, government and people for their hospitality.

The masses broke into enthusiastic cheers, looking up to the top leaders who are further consolidating the ties of DPRK-China friendship, which have steadily maintained their nature century after century and generation after generation, and energetically guiding them to the strategic expansion and development in conformity with the requirements of the new era and the aspirations and wishes of the peoples of the two countries.

The top leaders of the DPRK and China warmly waved back to the cheering masses.

Comrade Xi Jinping's private car headed toward the Kumsusan State Guesthouse, lodging quarters, getting an ovation along the route.

Comrade Kim Jong Un accompanied Comrade Xi Jinping to his lodgings.

The Pyongyang meeting overflowing with close friendship and warm feelings between the top leaders of the two countries was clearly recorded in history as an event of showing once again the DPRK-China relationship that has invariably carried forward the good tradition generation after generation and is making a new history of friendship and solidarity for the more beautiful future. -0-