Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed a pledge to strengthen strategic coordination with North Korea in a congratulatory message to leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday.
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The greetings marked the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official name of the country.
The message was delivered only days after a historic trip by Kim to Beijing, when the North Korean leader – for the first time – stood together with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Tiananmen Square, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) staged a grand parade commemorating 80 years since Japan’s formal surrender in World War II.
In his message on Tuesday, Xi emphasised the bond between China and North Korea as “traditional friendly neighbours connected by mountains and rivers”.
“Safeguarding, consolidating and developing China’s relationship with the DPRK has always been an unwavering strategic policy of the Communist Party and the Chinese government,” Xi said.
“China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and enhance exchanges and cooperation with the DPRK, working hand in hand to advance China-DPRK friendship and the socialist cause in both countries, thereby making greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the wider world,” he added.
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