Key facts
- Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged long-term and stable development of ties with North Korea.
- Xi's commitment was made in a reply to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
- The exchange followed Kim's congratulatory message to Xi on the 105th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.
- Xi stated his readiness to lead China-DPRK relations to sound and stable development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to ensure the "long-term and stable" development of his country's ties with North Korea, according to a message sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Xi's reply was in response to a congratulatory message from Kim on July 1, marking the 105th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Xi expressed his "sincere" thanks to Kim, noting that both North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea and the CCP are "Marxist ruling parties." The message read, "I am ready ... to lead the China-DPRK relations to a long-term, sound and stable development and thus promote the stable and long-term development of the socialist cause of the two countries."
Xi made a two-day state visit to Pyongyang on June 8-9, his first trip to North Korea in seven years. During that visit, Kim and Xi agreed to deepen cooperation and strengthen high-level communication. North Korea and China are scheduled to mark the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on July 11.