Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to expand cooperation in various fields, pledging to usher in a new era in bilateral relations, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday. Kim and Xi reached the agreement during their summit in Pyongyang the previous day, as the Chinese leader was making his first state visit to the North in seven years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two leaders agreed to put the two nations' friendly relations "on a more solid basis," with plans to expand cooperation in politics, the economy, culture, and other fields. They also agreed to "further strengthen the strategic communication through high-level visits between the two parties and two countries ... in order to open a new chapter of the development of the DPRK-China relations."
North Korea and China reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other's sovereignty, security, and development interests. Kim emphasized that strengthening ties with China was his country's "most important top-priority strategic work" and expressed his commitment to developing the relationship into a model for socialist states.
Xi's visit highlights China's intention to restore its influence on North Korea, a traditional ally and economic benefactor. Kim acknowledged Xi's visit to Pyongyang as a significant gesture, underscoring Beijing's commitment to the DPRK-China friendship.
During their meeting, both leaders agreed to enhance communication through high-level visits, expand exchanges and cooperation in multiple fields, and jointly defend each other's sovereignty and security. The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance.
The summit notably avoided discussing nuclear issues or the broader Korean Peninsula situation, a topic previously mentioned by Xi during his 2019 visit to Pyongyang. Chinese state media reported on Xi's call for stronger cooperation with North Korea across diplomacy, law enforcement, and military sectors.
On Tuesday, Kim and Xi paid tribute at the Friendship Tower, a monument honoring Chinese soldiers who fought alongside North Korean forces during the Korean War. They were accompanied by their wives, Ri Sol-ju and Peng Liyuan, as they continued to solidify the long-standing alliance between the two nations.
The two leaders also visited the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Leadership Academy, marking the first visit by a Chinese leader to the institution. They observed a class on North Korea-China relations and planted a tree as a symbol of friendship.
Xi is scheduled to depart for China later in the day.