BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended congratulations to Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), over the DPRK's 77th founding anniversary.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Chinese side stands ready to enhance strategic communication, maintain close exchanges and cooperation with the DPRK, and join hands to promote China-DPRK friendship and the socialist cause of the two countries, so as to make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world at large.