PYONGYANG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday marked the 57th anniversary of the signing of China-DPRK Friendly Cooperation and Mutual Aid Treaty here at the Chinese embassy.

Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and other senior DPRK officials attended a reception hosted by Zhang Chenggang, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy.

Addressing the event, Zhang said that in the past 57 years, China and the DPRK have upheld the spirit of the treaty and carried out friendly exchanges and cooperation in areas of politics, economy, culture, science and technology, education, health and journalism.

This has strongly pushed forward the socialist construction in both countries, brought substantial benefits to their peoples and helped safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia, said Zhang.

It is the unshakable stand of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese government to cement bilateral relationship and push the ties for long term and healthy development, he said.

Yang, meanwhile, said that the treaty has an important historical meaning and the DPRK-China friendship is created and nourished by the old generations of leaders of the two countries, thus becoming a shared treasure of the two countries.

He said that to steadfastly develop the DPRK-China friendship is an unshakable stand of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the government.