During the whole course of his revolutionary life, President Kim Il Sung paid more than 40 visits to China and forged special personal relations and deepened friendly feelings with Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese leaders of elder generations. Among those recorded in history of the DPRK-PRC friendship, there is his official visit to the People’s Republic of China from September 15 to 26 in 1982, 40 years ago. As his visit was made only four days after the 12th Congress of the Communist Party of China was closed, it had great significance in the development of the bilateral friendship as well as the situation of world politics. Thus, it drew great interest and attention of the peoples of Asia and the rest of the world, to say nothing of the peoples of the two countries. The Party, government and people of China accorded cordial hospitality and warm welcome to President Kim Il Sung with all sincerity. At that time, according to the decision of the State Council of China on simplifying the diplomatic etiquette, a person of vice-ministerial level used to receive a head of foreign state at a station. However, Deng Xiaoping and other leading officials of the Chinese Party and government changed the receiving plan, saying that they had to go to the station as it would be improper if they did not personally greet Comrade Kim Il Sung, being bound by the protocol formalities, and that they should also accompany him on his provincial tour. Thus, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the CPC and Director of the Central Counselor Committee, the Premier of the State Council, the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC, the Vice-Premier of the State Council, the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the CPC, the Minister of Defence, the Foreign Minister and other senior officials of the Chinese Party and government greeted the President at Beijing railway station and Comrade Deng Xiaoping accompanied him on a long journey from Beijing to Chengdu. The sincere hospitality and warm welcome accorded to the President by the Party, government and people of China proved to the entire world the deepness and exceptionality of personal relations forged between the leaders of the DPRK and PRC as well as the credibility and firmness of friendship and unity between the peoples of the two countries. During the visit, he expressed his support to the programme of construction for socialist modernization set forth by the CPC and warmly congratulated the CPC on its successful 12th Congress. Saying that the peoples of the two countries have always valued the friendship of revolutionary comrades-in-arms forged by blood and the ties of class brothers, and invariably consolidated and developed the relations of friendship even in the face of all sorts of trials and ordeals, he expressed his will to exert all efforts for strengthening and developing the bilateral friendship. The immortal exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung in the chronicles of the DPRK-PRC friendship will shine forever through centuries and generations along with the ever-developing friendship between the two countries. PROVIDED TO THE PYONGYANG TIMES | 