Pyongyang, September 13 (KCNA) — Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China, on Sept. 12.

The message said:

Esteemed Comrade General Secretary,

I express deep thanks to you for sending warm congratulations and sincere wishes on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the DPRK.

The warm congratulations and best wishes of the Comrade General Secretary serve as great energy and encouragement to all the members of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK people who are making all-out efforts to usher in a new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation, regarding socialism as their faith.

We will always join hands with the Chinese comrades in the course of firmly defending and advancing the common cause of socialism and further cultivating, strengthening and developing the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and China in conformity with the requirements of the new era and the aspirations and wishes of the peoples of the two countries.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I express again the conviction that the fraternal Chinese people will continue to make fresh progress in the sacred cause of comprehensively building a modern and powerful socialist country and achieving the great prosperity of the Chinese nation under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China with you, Comrade General Secretary, as its core.

I sincerely wish you, Comrade General Secretary, good health and greater success in your responsible work.