Pyongyang citizens place flowers in front of the Friendship Tower during the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers joined the Korean War. (Xinhua/Lu Rui)
A Chinese delegation led by Minister of Civic Affairs Li Liguo on Sunday attended commemorative activities respectively in Pyongyang and Kaesong of the 65th anniversary since the Chinese People's Volunteers joined the Korean War between 1950 and 1953.
On Sunday morning, Li and Yang Hyong Sop, vice chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, appeared at Friendship Tower in central Pyongyang, a symbolic building erected in memory of the Chinese martyrs that died in the Korean War. They placed wreaths before the tower and then went into the tower to tour round the frescoes depicting Korean People's Army and Chinese people's volunteer army fighting together against the United States.
Then Li departed Pyongyang for Kaesong, a city only 60 kilometers from South Korea's capital Seoul, to attend the completion ceremony of a freshly renovated cemetery of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.
Chinese delegation leader Li liguo (L) unveils the renovated cemetery of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army during the completion ceremony in DPRK southern city of Kaesong. (Xinhua/Lu Rui)
Other senior officials taking part in the completion ceremony included Kang Ha Guk, minister of public health and chairman of DPRK-China Friendship Association, and Zhang Chenggang, minister-counselor of the Chinese embassy.
Kang stressed in the speech that DPRK-China friendship was the biggest diplomatic fruition and legacy left by late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and that it is the determination of the party and the people of the DPRK to develop and carry forward the friendship from generation to generation.
Kaesong Cemetery of Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army is located at the foot of Songak-san in the city of Kaesong, where a total of 15,236 Chinese martyrs (10,084 known and 5,152 unknown) were buried.
