Beijing: The leaders of North Korea and China have reached an "important common understanding" on bilateral ties, as well as regional and global issues during their recent discussions in Beijing. This development was reported by state media on Thursday, which cited a key Chinese parliamentary official.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Zhang Qingwei, a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, mentioned this significant progress at a reception held by the North Korean Embassy in Beijing on Monday. The reception was organized to commemorate the 77th anniversary of North Korea's founding on September 9, 1948. It came shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing to attend China's military parade.
During the visit, Kim engaged in his first bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in over six years, where they reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining traditionally friendly relations. The talks occurred amid efforts to rejuvenate bilateral relations, which had appeared strained due to North Korea's growing military alignment with Russia.
The North's main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, quoted Zhang stating that Xi and Kim achieved "important common understanding" through in-depth discussions on mutual interests, covering both bilateral and broader regional and global issues.
At the same event, North Korean Ambassador to China Ri Yong-nam expressed North Korea's willingness to consistently develop and deepen its relations with China, irrespective of changes in the international landscape, as reported by the Rodong Sinmun.
In a congratulatory message to Kim on North Korea's national founding anniversary, Xi conveyed China's readiness to bolster strategic communication with Pyongyang, according to North Korean state media reports on Wednesday.