Key facts
- Chinese President Xi Jinping met North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
- The meeting occurred ahead of the 65th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between China and North Korea.
- Pak Thae-song arrived in Beijing earlier on Friday for a three-day visit.
- The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed on July 11, 1961.
- This is the first time in seven years a North Korean government delegation has visited Beijing to celebrate the treaty's anniversary.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday, ahead of the 65th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between the two nations. The meeting was shown on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Pak Thae-song arrived in Beijing earlier in the day for a three-day visit to attend the event commemorating the treaty anniversary, at the invitation of China's Communist Party. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed on July 11, 1961, by late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping held summit talks in Pyongyang last month and pledged to enhance bilateral ties through expanded exchanges and more frequent high-level visits. Xi had emphasized the significance of marking the anniversary, leading to expectations of large-scale celebrations.
South Korea's unification ministry stated it will "closely monitor" related developments. The ministry noted that this marks the first time in seven years a North Korean government delegation has been sent to Beijing to celebrate the treaty's anniversary, and that North Korea has elevated the rank of its chief delegate to premier this year.