Vice-President Li Yuanchao left Beijing for Pyongyang on Thursday to attend commemorative events marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-53) truce.

The four-day visit, which will conclude on Sunday, shows how much China values its bilateral relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, observers said.

Li is accompanied by a delegation of veterans and art performers from the People's Liberation Army.

Ministry of National Defense spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Thursday that the delegation was invited by the DPRK to attend festivities celebrating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice.

"Beijing has been committed to promoting the healthy and stable development of a long-term China-DPRK relationship. We will steadfastly safeguard the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," Geng said.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 07/26/2013 page7)