North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song, who visited China to mark the 65th anniversary of the North Korea-China treaty, returned home yesterday after touring Beijing and Tianjin.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Premier Pak sent a message of thanks to Chinese Premier Li Qiang, expressing his intention to work together to comprehensively expand and develop bilateral relations.

In the message sent to Premier Li upon concluding his official visit to China, Premier Pak expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown to the government delegation and stated, "I am satisfied that this visit was conducted successfully."

The news agency further reported that he expressed his "willingness to work jointly with Chinese comrades to comprehensively expand and develop the traditional North Korea-China friendly and cooperative relations in line with the requirements of the new era."

The North Korean delegation departed for home on July 12, the final day of their visit, after touring various sites in Beijing and Tianjin.

In Beijing, the delegation visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China to view the exhibits and also visited the Beijing Rail Transit Command Center.

In the guestbook at the Museum of the Communist Party of China, Premier Pak Thae-song wrote, "I hope that the Chinese people will continuously achieve new successes in building a modern socialist country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China."

Prior to this, the delegation toured several locations in Tianjin, including a green, low-carbon circular economy pilot base of the China Resources Recycling Group, and attended a welcome banquet hosted by the Secretary of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

After completing their schedule, the delegation departed Beijing on a special plane, seen off by Wu Zhenglong, Secretary-General of the State Council of China; Wang Yajun, Chinese Ambassador to North Korea; Hua Chunying, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China; and Ri Ryong-nam, North Korean Ambassador to China.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that upon their arrival at Pyongyang International Airport, they were greeted by Kim Tok-hun, First Vice Premier of the Cabinet; An Hyon-min, Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea; Kim Son-gyong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and officials from the Chinese Embassy in North Korea.
 
(Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News)