PYONGYANG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Thursday for a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The DPRK visit, Xi's first as CPC chief and Chinese head of state and also the first of its kind in 14 years, came as the two neighboring countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

In a signed article published Wednesday in the DPRK's mainstream media, Xi said he stands ready to work with Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, to chart the future course of China-DPRK relations and open a new chapter for the two countries' traditional friendship.