Pyongyang, DPRK — In a significant move to bolster bilateral relations, China’s top legislator Zhao Leji met with Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang on Saturday. The meeting marks a pivotal moment as both nations prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2024.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a party and government delegation on an official goodwill visit to the DPRK from Thursday to Saturday. During his visit, he attended the opening ceremony of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year,” symbolizing a renewed commitment to strengthen ties.
During the meeting, Zhao expressed China’s readiness to work closely with the DPRK under the new situation to promote greater development of bilateral relations. He emphasized that China and the DPRK have been good neighbors for 75 years, fighting side by side, sharing a common future, and promoting common development. “It is our unswerving policy to maintain, consolidate, and develop the traditional friendly cooperative relations between China and the DPRK,” Zhao stated.
Zhao conveyed that the CPC and the Chinese government view China-DPRK relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. He highlighted the importance of promoting pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve new results and continuing to support each other to safeguard common interests. He also expressed China’s willingness to coordinate closely with the DPRK to jointly organize various activities for the “China-DPRK Friendship Year.”
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, affirmed the unwavering policy of the WPK and the DPRK government to consolidate and develop the traditional friendly cooperative relations between the two countries. He noted that the relations are constantly developing to a higher stage in accordance with the requirements of the new era. “The DPRK is ready to strengthen cooperation in various fields and exchange experience in state governance with China to deepen traditional friendship and write a new chapter in DPRK-China relations,” Kim said.
The meeting underscores the commitment of both nations to deepen their historical ties and work collaboratively towards mutual development. As regional dynamics continue to evolve, the strengthened cooperation between China and the DPRK is poised to have significant implications for the political and economic landscape of Asia.
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China's top legislator meets DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang
cgtn.com
