Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, will pay a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on June 20-21, at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

The following is a selection of Xi's remarks on China-DPRK relations.

ON BILATERAL TIES 

-- The CPC and the Chinese government highly value China-DPRK relations, and this is a principle that China unswervingly adheres to.

-- The Chinese side supports the DPRK people to explore a development path suited to its national conditions under the leadership of Kim, and hopes that the DPRK will have a promising future in all its endeavors.

-- Calling China and the DPRK friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, Xi said he attaches great importance to the China-DPRK traditional friendship and cooperative relations.

-- Xi said he and Kim had reached important consensus on the development of China-DPRK party-to-party and state-to-state relations in the new era during their four meetings since 2018.

-- Comrade Chairman's visit to China at the beginning of 2019, which marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the China-DPRK diplomatic relationship, fully embodied the great importance Comrade Chairman attaches to the two countries' traditional friendship and Comrade Chairman's friendship with the CPC and the Chinese people.

-- I am willing to work hand-in-hand with Comrade Chairman to promote China-DPRK relations for long-term, healthy and sound development so as to benefit both countries and both peoples and to boost regional peace and security.

ON KOREAN PENINSULA 

-- The political settlement of the Peninsula issue faces a rare historical opportunity.

-- China will, as always, support the amelioration of inter-Korean relations and facilitate reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides.

-- China stands ready to work with the DPRK and relevant parties to play a positive and constructive role in maintaining peace and stability and realizing denuclearization on the peninsula and lasting peace and stability in the region.

-- China supports the DPRK's continued adherence to the direction of denuclearization on the peninsula, supports the continuous improvement of inter-Korean relations, supports the DPRK and the United States holding summits and achieving results, and supports relevant parties resolving their respective legitimate concerns through dialogue.