Fu Quanyou, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with a delegation from the Korean People's Army of the DPRK, headed by Kang Pyo Yong, deputy army commander of the force.

Fu said the friendship between the two countries, which is, in fact, the legacy left by their leaders, has withstood the tests of time and history against a backdrop of dramatic changes in the international situation over the past decades.

China will work, together with the DPRK, to further develop relations between the two countries on the basis of the traditional friendship, and with a view toward the future. China values the friendship with its neighbor and will seek to further strengthen cooperation, Fu said.

Fu stated China's stance on the Korean Peninsula issue.

For his part, Kang Pyo Yong said it has always been the policy of the DPRK government to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

The delegation has witnessed the great achievements of socialist modernization in China for the past days and has felt the profound emotions of the Chinese government and Chinese people for the government and the people of the DPRK, Kang said.

(People's Daily October 12, 2002 )