China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been friendly neighbors since ancient times, and their good neighborly ties, friendship and cooperation are steadily growing stronger.

China established diplomatic relations with the DPRK on Oct. 6, 1949, and is one of the earliest countries to establish diplomatic ties with the DPRK.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army fought together with the people and army of the DPRK to win the Korean War in the 1950s. The two countries signed the bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on July 11, 1961.

Over the past 60 years, frequent exchanges of visits by the two countries' leaders, expanding cooperation in economy and trade, active cultural communication as well as coordination on international and regional affairs have proven that the China-DPRK good neighborly relations have been constantly consolidated and developed, not only promoting and safeguarding each other's development and common interest, but also making significant contributions to regional peace and stability.

In the 21st century, communication between the two countries' leaders has been further intensified, and ties between the two countries have been further strengthened. DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il paid four visits to China in the past year, vigorously exchanging opinions and reaching consensus with Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. The two sides are making efforts to reach consensus to further bilateral ties.

In recent years, there has been frequent high-level communication between the two countries. Meng Jianzhu, minister of Public Security and state councilor of China, visited the DPRK in February. Li Yuanchao, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Organization Department, visited the country in June, and Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, visited the DPRK in July to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

On the DPRK side, Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) of the DPRK, visited China in July to mark the 50th anniversary of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, followed by DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim's visit to China in September.

Communication in other areas between the two countries is also being deepened. A photo exhibition and a Chinese film week to mark the 90th anniversary of the CPC and a photo exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 were jointly held by the Chinese embassy in the DPRK and the DPRK-China Friendship Association in Pyongyang this year.

SPA issued a decree on July 6 to rename a middle school in South Phyongan Province the Luo Shengjiao School. Also, a training ship formation headed by Tian Zhong, commander of the North Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, visited the DPRK in August. Finally, the Chinese dance drama "Confetti on Silk Road" was re-staged in the DPRK in July after 30 years and warmly welcomed by DPRK audiences.

China has been the DPRK's main trade partner, and trade between the two countries has grown rapidly in recent years, with more investment from Chinese enterprises in the DPRK and more diversity in trade.

The trade value between the two countries has reached 3.10 billion U.S. dollars from January to July this year, up 87.6 percent year on year. The two sides also plan to jointly explore some promising areas to deepen bilateral trade cooperation. Hyesan-China Joint Venture Mineral Company, the largest joint mineral project between China and the DPRK in recent years, opened in Hyesan, Ryanggang province, in September.

Close communication and cooperation in other fields such as the military, culture, education, science and sports between the two countries have also been strong in the past years. The two sides have signed various agreements in these fields, with exchange programs formulated every year.