The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a banquet on Thursday to commemorate the 47thanniversary of a DPRK-China friendship treaty.

Guided by the spirit of the treaty, the DPRK and China have shown mutual cooperation and support, thus contributing to peace and stability in North-East Asia, said the chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, Choe Chang Sik.

The DPRK will continue to strengthen the traditional friendship with China, he added.

Enhancing and developing China-DPRK friendship was the unshakable goal of the Chinese government, said Xing Haiming, the Chinese charge d'affaires in Pyongyang.

He added that China will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the DPRK under the principles of "inheriting tradition, aiming at the future, good-neighborly and friendly relations, and enhancing cooperation."

The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and the DPRK was signed on July 11, 1961.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2008)