Key facts
- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing.
- Xi stated that China and North Korea should ensure their bilateral relations support their socialist cause and modernization.
- The meeting occurred ahead of the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.
- Pak Thae-song is in Beijing to attend events commemorating the treaty's signing.
- This is the first time in seven years a North Korean government delegation has visited Beijing for the treaty's anniversary.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and socialist modernization during a meeting with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing. The meeting took place ahead of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two nations, which falls on July 11.
According to China's Xinhua News Agency, Xi stated that despite a volatile international situation, the two countries should maintain strategic resolve and accelerate the implementation of consensus reached by him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Pak Thae-song arrived in Beijing earlier in the day to participate in events commemorating the treaty, which was originally signed in 1961 by Kim Il-sung and Zhou Enlai.
This visit marks the first time in seven years that a North Korean government delegation has been sent to Beijing to celebrate the treaty's anniversary. Notably, North Korea has elevated the rank of its chief delegate to premier for this year's commemoration, a step up from previous years.