Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a reply message to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of the People's Republic of China, on September 19.

In the message Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the WPK and the DPRK government and all the Korean people and on his own behalf to General Secretary Xi Jinping for sending ardent congratulations and warm wishes on the occasion of the 71st founding anniversary of the DPRK.

The message said that the invariable support from the General Secretary, the Chinese party, government and people served as great strength and courage for the WPK and the government and people of the DPRK who are dynamically struggling to realize the cause of building a powerful socialist country.

It went on:

Our meetings in Beijing and Pyongyang fully demonstrated before the world my and Comrade General Secretary's firm will to invariably consolidate and develop the DPRK-China friendship, which are precious common wealth of the two parties and peoples of the two countries and strategic option.

I will make every possible effort to successfully carry forward and glorify great DPRK-China friendship on the road of socialism and bring about a rosier future as I promised Comrade General Secretary.

I sincerely hope that the Chinese people would significantly mark the 70th birthday of new China and achieve greater success in the struggle for realizing great prosperity of the Chinese nation, united closer around the Communist Party of China with Comrade General Secretary as the core.

The message wholeheartedly wished Xi Jinping good health and happiness.