Pyongyang: A senior North Korean party official and China's top political adviser have met in Pyongyang to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as reported by North Korea's state media.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jo Yong-won, a secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held talks on Wednesday. Wang, who is China's fourth-ranking official, is leading a delegation on a three-day visit to North Korea to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two nations.
During the discussions, Jo emphasized the need for North Korea and China to strengthen unity, support, and solidarity amidst a rapidly changing international political landscape. He highlighted the intent to develop friendly and cooperative relations further, grounded in the spirit of the treaty. Jo stated that bilateral ties have reached a new developmental phase under the leadership of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and he expressed Pyongyang's willingness to expand strategic communication and cooperation across various sectors.
Wang affirmed that the friendship treaty has established a legal foundation for reinforcing the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries. He reiterated China's commitment to elevating bilateral relations to a higher level, in line with the consensus reached by Xi and Kim during their summit in Pyongyang in June.
The two officials discussed enhancing party-to-party exchanges and expanding cooperation in fields such as the economy and culture to promote the well-being of their citizens. Wang's visit follows North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song's trip to China, where he attended events marking the treaty anniversary and met with Xi and other senior Chinese leaders.
The exchange of high-level delegations underscores the active contacts between Pyongyang and Beijing, as both sides aim to reaffirm their close ties and deepen cooperation. An official from Seoul's unification ministry noted the possibility of a meeting between Wang and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as well as potential follow-up cooperation resulting from the talks. The official also mentioned the presence of officials involved in urban management, indicating possible discussions on cooperation in economic and urban development sectors.
These latest exchanges reflect efforts by North Korea and China to strengthen strategic communication and party-to-party ties. However, it remains to be seen whether the current pace of high-level exchanges will continue beyond the events marking the treaty anniversary.