President Xi Supports Increased Cooperation Between China And North Korea
JAKARTA - President Xi Jinping expressed his willingness to strengthen strategic communication and close cooperation between China and North Korea, North Korean state media reported Tuesday.
President Xi sent congratulations to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the 77th anniversary of North Korea's founding, KCNA reported.
"China is ready to join hands in promoting China-DPRK friendship and socialist goals of the two countries through intensive strategic communication and brief visits as well as close cooperation with the DPRK," KCNA reported citing President Xi's message, referring to North Korea's official name.
In his congratulations, President Xi, who is also Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (PKT), stressed that over the past 77 years, the Workers' Party of Korea (PKK) led by Kim Jong-un as Secretary General has united and led the people of the DPRK to continue to progress relentlessly and encourage sustainable development, quoted from Xinhua.
Stressing China and North Korea are traditionally friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, President Xi said it has always been a solid strategic guideline for PKT and the Chinese Government to maintain, consolidate and develop good relations between China-North Korea.
President Xi and Leader Kim met on the sidelines of the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of "Victory Day" attended by several heads of state and heads of government, in Beijing last week.
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At their first meeting in six years, President Xi called for closer coordination with North Korea in global and regional affairs.
Leader Kim's visit to Beijing will help improve North Korea's relations with China, which has stretched as Leader Kim strengthens Russia's relations, and help Pyongyang secure economic aid in the face of continued sanctions, experts say.
He was seen walking and talking with President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a series of events last week.