China and North Korea Pledge Enhanced Cooperation
Pyongyang, North Korea – In a significant diplomatic engagement, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. The summit, held in Pyongyang, underscored a mutual commitment to deepening ties and advancing shared strategic interests.
Key Agreements and Future Outlook
During the summit, President Xi emphasized the need for a substantial increase in exchanges across various sectors, including diplomacy, law enforcement, and the military. He stated, “We must further expand and invigorate exchanges in all areas and at all levels between our two parties and countries, and deepen exchanges in governance experience to build socialism.” He further elaborated, “We should strengthen exchanges in fields such as diplomacy, law enforcement, and the military, and President Kim and I, as comrades, must effectively implement the important consensus reached to pool our wisdom and strength for the development of our friendly relations.”
Xi also highlighted the importance of expanding practical cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture, construction, science and technology, and healthcare, with the goal of delivering greater benefits to the people of both nations. He proposed facilitating the full restoration of cross-border transportation, including railways, civil aviation, and international passenger flights, to promote people-to-people exchanges and realize bilateral cooperation.
Reinforcing Historical Friendship
President Xi underscored the enduring friendship between China and North Korea, calling it a “precious common asset of the peoples of the two countries.” He expressed a desire to jointly maintain and manage the memorial facilities of Chinese People’s Volunteers in North Korea and to jointly carry out revolutionary tradition education and youth ideological education to pass down the traditional friendship.
“The two countries of China and North Korea must strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation, resolutely safeguard each other’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability,” Xi added.
North Korea’s Strategic Priority
Kim Jong Un echoed the sentiment, stating, “The friendship between North Korea and China is the choice of the people and the demand of the times.” He affirmed, “We will continue to regard the development of North Korea-China relations as the most important strategic task of our country.” Kim further pledged to strive to make North Korea-China relations a model for relations between countries and to jointly contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
Acknowledging the significant global shifts, Kim stated, “The international community is undergoing unprecedented changes.” He reiterated North Korea’s unwavering support for the “One China principle” and its firm backing for China’s policies and positions aimed at safeguarding its core interests.
Kim also acknowledged President Xi’s decision to make Pyongyang his first overseas visit of the year, expressing that it demonstrates “special attention and friendship towards North Korea-China relations, which is a great encouragement to the North Korean side.”
