BEIJING – President Xi Jinping on Thursday reaffirmed China’s commitment to maintaining, consolidating, and developing its relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), emphasizing that this position will remain unchanged regardless of shifts in the international situation.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Kim arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to attend commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931–45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. This visit marks Kim’s first trip to China since early 2019 and the first time since he became the DPRK’s top leader that he has appeared alongside more than 20 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the grand military parade on Wednesday.
“I feel pleased to meet with you again after six years,” Xi said, recalling his state visit to North Korea in June 2019. He highlighted the close ties between the two countries, describing their relationship as akin to family members. Xi noted that Kim’s attendance at the commemoration demonstrated the DPRK’s firm commitment to safeguarding the victorious outcome of World War II and provided an important opportunity to further advance bilateral relations.
Xi expressed Beijing’s readiness to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with Pyongyang, deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, enhance mutual understanding, and promote closer interactions at all levels, as well as practical cooperation across various fields. He highlighted China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, which the DPRK has actively supported.
On regional issues, Xi emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic coordination to safeguard shared interests. Regarding the Korean Peninsula, he reaffirmed China’s objective and fair stance and expressed readiness to continue working with the DPRK to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Kim expressed deep feelings at meeting Xi after six years. “Over these six years, China has undergone tremendous changes and development, which has left a strong impression on me. What I feel even more profoundly, however, is the enduring friendship between the peoples of the DPRK and China that has never changed,” he said, stressing that the friendship will remain steadfast regardless of global developments.
He reaffirmed the DPRK’s support for China’s position on issues concerning its core interests and its commitment to safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kim also expressed gratitude for China’s long-standing support for the DPRK’s socialist cause and highlighted the importance of maintaining close exchanges between the two parties and governments, deepening mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, and strengthening coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms.
Accompanying Kim on the visit were DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and senior officials from key departments of both the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee and the DPRK government. On Thursday evening, Xi hosted a tea meeting and a banquet in Kim’s honor.
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