On the morning of Dec. 20, 2011, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, went to the DPRK Embassy in China to express his sincere condolence on the death of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA).
Wu Bangguo, Member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of Standing Committee of National People's Congress, Li Changchun, Member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Xi Jinping, Member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice President of the People's Republic of China, also went to the embassy to offer their condolence.
At about 10 a.m., Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders came to the condolence hall of the DPRK Embassy in China. The portrait of Kim Jong Il was hung in the hall. The wreaths of Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Li Changchun, and Xi Jinping were placed in the front of the portrait.
Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders stood before the portrait of Kim Jong Il in a silent tribute and bowed three times to the portrait.
While offering his condolence, Hu Jintao said that the Chinese party, government and people are deeply grieved by the tragic death of Comrade Kim Jong Il, who is a great leader of the party and state of DPRK and a close friend of the Chinese people. He was devoted to the revolution and development undertakings of DPRK and made important contributions to promoting the development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between China and DPRK. He will always be remembered by the Chinese people. President Hu also expressed the belief that the Korean people will follow in the footsteps of Comrade Kim Jong Il, be closely united around the Workers' Party of Korea, and under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un, turn grief into strength and make tireless efforts to build a powerful socialist country and achieve lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
President Hu stressed that it is the unswerving policy of the Chinese party and government to continuously consolidate and develop China-DPRK traditional friendship and cooperation. "We are willing to join hands with the Korean comrades to build, develop and consolidate the bilateral traditional friendship and cooperation."
Charge d'affaires Pak Myong Ho of the DPRK Embassy in China expressed his sincere appreciation to Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders for coming to offer condolence. He said that Comrade Kim Jong Il made great efforts and contributions to the development of DPRK-China friendship. The sudden death of Kim Jong Il is the biggest loss of the DPRK party and revolution and the greatest grief of the people and nation of DPRK. Under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un, they will turn grief into strength and courage, overcome the current difficult situation and strive to push forward the socialist cause of DPRK. DPRK is willing to work with China to further strengthen DPRK-China friendship and continue to develop DPRK-China traditional friendship and cooperation.
CPC Central Committee, the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, and the Central Military Commission also sent wreaths.
Guo Boxiong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Ling Jihua, Member of Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, also participated in the condolence activity.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui, Director of President's Office Chen Shiju and other leaders also participated in the mourning activity.