Ceremony held in DPRK to commemorate 76th anniversary of CPV's participation in War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea

PYONGYANG, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fight in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea was held at the China-DPRK Friendship Tower here on Sunday.

On the DPRK side, present at the ceremony were Kim Hyong Sik, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and other senior officials from relevant departments of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the government and the military.

On the Chinese side, attendees included Qi Han, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy in the DPRK, and other embassy diplomats, Hong Zongming, vice minister of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and a visiting delegation he headed, as well as representatives of China's representative office in the DPRK for commending the CPV martyrs, and Chinese-funded institutions and media organizations, overseas Chinese and Chinese students in the DPRK.

The commemoration began at around 10 a.m. local time, with the military band of the Korean People's Army playing the national anthems of China and the DPRK in succession. All participants stood solemnly in an orderly formation and observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the CPV martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war.

Kim said the traditional DPRK-China friendship was forged in blood as the two sides stood together through life-and-death struggles during the war.

"Under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, bilateral relations have continued to be elevated to a new and higher level," he said.

The Party, government and people of the DPRK will never forget the immortal exploits of the CPV martyrs, and will continue to make every effort to properly maintain and manage memorial facilities dedicated to the CPV martyrs in the DPRK, said Kim.

Qi said that the traditional China-DPRK friendship was forged and meticulously nurtured by the older generation of leaders of the two parties and two countries, and cemented in blood by the military personnel and people of both countries during the war.

In recent years, under the personal planning and strategic guidance of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK, the traditional friendship between the two countries has demonstrated great vitality, Qi said.

"China stands ready to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, inherit and carry forward the great spirit demonstrated in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and keep pushing the bilateral relations forward," she added.

Hong expressed gratitude to the DPRK's Party and government for their sustained and extensive efforts to maintain and manage the memorial facilities dedicated to the CPV martyrs in the DPRK.

"The top leaders of the two parties and two countries have attached great importance to the commendation work in honor of the CPV martyrs," Hong said.

He added that relevant departments and agencies of China and the DPRK will resolutely implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, and keep making unremitting efforts in the commendation work through close cooperation and concerted coordination.

Following the memorial ceremony at the tower, China's representative office in the DPRK for commending the CPV martyrs hosted a reception on Sunday evening to mark the anniversary, during which Qi, Hong and Kang Chol Ho, vice minister of the DPRK's Ministry of Urban Management, delivered their speeches.

On the same day, commemorative activities were also held at the CPV martyrs' cemeteries in Hoechang, Anju, Kaesong and other places in the DPRK, where local officials and residents paid tribute to the fallen by laying wreaths.