PYONGYANG - China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday pledged to continue to promote bilateral ties and friendship.

The China-DPRK friendship has been greatly enhanced over recent years thanks to the care and attention of top leaders from both nations as well as the joint efforts of both sides, said visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang.

Heading a Chinese delegation, Zhang arrived here Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Between China and the DPRK.

By commemorating the 50th anniversary of the treaty, China and the DPRK aim to further consolidate their friendship so as to benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace and development, Zhang said while meeting with Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, at Mansudae Assembly Hall.

China is willing to maintain close communications and coordination with the DPRK to safeguard the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, Zhang said.

China also sincerely wished that the DPRK could make greater achievements in its national development, Zhang said.

Kim said the visit by Zhang and the Chinese delegation showed that the Chinese government has attached great importance to the development of DPRK-China ties.

DPRK top leader Kim Jong-il has visited China three times since last year, and has reached important consensus with Chinese President Hu Jintao on promoting bilateral ties comprehensively, which marked that China-DPRK relations have entered a new phase of development, Kim said.

China and the DPRK should strive to implement the consensus reached by top leaders of the two sides and further consolidate DPRK-China friendship generation after generation, Kim said.