Key facts
- North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.
- The meeting took place on the 65th anniversary of the North Korea-China friendship treaty.
- Both leaders discussed expanding exchanges and cooperation between their countries.
- Pak described bilateral relations as having reached a new high.
- Li reiterated China's commitment to defending and consolidating relations with North Korea.
- Pak also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.
North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song met with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang in Beijing to discuss expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two nations, according to North Korean state media. The meeting occurred on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between the two countries.
During their talks, Pak and Li discussed increasing exchanges and cooperation across all sectors, aligning with an agreement previously reached by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Pak characterized the relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing as having ascended to a "new high level," and pledged to enhance their friendship and solidarity.
In response, Li emphasized that it is the "steadfast" policy of the Chinese government to defend and consolidate relations with Pyongyang, referring to the North Korea-China relationship as one of "neighbors sharing destiny." Pak had arrived in Beijing on Friday with a North Korean delegation to attend the anniversary event. During his visit, Pak also paid a courtesy call to President Xi and met with other high-ranking Chinese officials.
The friendship treaty was originally signed on July 11, 1961, by late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung and then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.