The top Chinese leader Jiang Zemin on Monday stressed the role of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in China and the importance to make it stronger to accomplish its historical tasks.

Jiang deliberated over the domestic political situation in China in his speech at a banquet given his honor by his host Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee and chairman of the National Defense Commission (NDC) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Jiang, who is on a three-day visit to the DPRK in his capacity of the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and the Chinese president, said: "At the beginning of the new century, China entered a new stage in building a well-off society and speeding up its socialist modernization drive."

The CPC is facing with the tasks of pushing forward the modernization drive, realizing reunification, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, Jiang told his host and audience.

"The CPC must always earnestly represents the development requirements of China's advanced social productive forces, the progressive course of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, " the CPC leader said.

He said that this is the basic requirements for ensuring the CPC's continuous progress in theoretical, systematic, scientific and technological innovations, and in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Jiang said that the CPC will progress with time and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to strive for the revitalization of the Chinese nation, realization of the reunification cause and promotion of peace and development of the humankind.

Kim, in his speech at the banquet, said that Jiang's visit, which is conducted when the friendship between the two countries has been scoring new progress in the new century, indicates that the aspiration of the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people to continue to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between China and the DPRK, which are two neighbors connected with mountains and rivers and the peoples of which enjoy a history of friendly contacts.

"Although things have changed drastically, the two parties, countries and peoples have always treasured and enhanced the friendship," Kim said.

The CPC's and Chinese government's foreign policy of peace, development and cooperation has gained increasing international acceptance and played a bigger role in the international forum, the DPRK leader said.

He said that the DPRK hopes the CPC, and the Chinese government and the Chinese people score new achievements in building a rich, strong and modern socialist country and realizing the reunification.

Kim said that to further friendship between the two countries in the new century is in the interests of the two peoples and that it is also a contribution to safeguarding peace and security in Asia and the world at large.

The WPK and DPRK people will, as always, continue to make positive efforts for expansion of the friendship, added Kim.

(People's Daily 09/0/2001)