On the eve of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese leaders yesterday delivered a message to the DPRK leaders, expressing their best wishes to the nation and its people.

On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese Government and the Chinese people, President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao sent a letter of congratulations to Kim Jong-il, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army; Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly; and DPRK Prime Minister Park Pong-ju.

The Chinese leaders said in the letter that 55 years ago, the founding of the DPRK created a new era in the country's history.

China and the DPRK have always maintained friendly ties, the letter said, adding that the traditional friendship between the two countries has witnessed further development in recent years.

The letter noted that the Chinese people will, along with the DPRK people, continue consolidating and developing friendly co-operative relations between the two countries, and striving for the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsular.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing yesterday also sent a congratulatory letter to his DPRK counterpart Paek Nam-sun.

The DPRK will hold its first major military parade in more than a decade to celebrate its 55th birthday today.

The last major military parade in Pyongyang was in April 1992.

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