▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with a Chinese party and government delegation led by Wang Huning, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who visited North Korea to mark the 65th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on July 16.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, met with Wang Huning, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who is currently visiting Pyongyang, to emphasize the strategic nature of the DPRK-China treaty and reaffirm his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations based on it.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that General Secretary Kim met with the Chinese party and government delegation led by Chairman Wang yesterday.
Chairman Kim expressed his gratitude for the "well wishes and comradely greetings" conveyed by President Xi Jinping through Chairman Wang and asked that his own "greetings" be conveyed to President Xi in return.
Kim highly valued the significance of the Chinese delegation's visit, stating, "The dispatch of a high-level party and government delegation to our country is a manifestation of the firm will to attach importance to DPRK-China relations and to unswervingly implement the issues agreed upon at the Pyongyang summit."
Regarding the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, which marks its 65th anniversary this year, he emphasized that it is "an inter-state treaty that defines the strategic nature of the relations between the two countries and presents a strategic direction," adding that it "plays a significant role in safeguarding the fundamental interests of both the DPRK and China and in ensuring peace and security in the region and the world."
He further stressed the commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, stating, "It is the firm and unwavering policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to develop the traditional friendly and cooperative relations, with socialism at the core, more vigorously across various fields in line with the changing demands of the era and the aspirations and desires of the peoples of both countries."
General Secretary Kim added, "We will continue to unswervingly support and encourage the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, led by General Secretary Xi Jinping."
According to the KCNA, Chairman Wang expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown to the delegation by the North Korean side and stated his "willingness to fully implement the important consensus and agreements reached through the historic Pyongyang summit, to enhance political mutual trust and bilateral solidarity, and to expand and develop mutual cooperation and coordination."
The news of the Chinese delegation's meeting with Chairman Kim was reported on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, which is read by North Korean residents.
Yesterday, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the delegation attended a banquet commemorating the 65th anniversary of the treaty, but did not mention the meeting with General Secretary Kim.
North Korean media reported that the delegation carried out various activities in addition to the meeting.
On this day, the second day of their visit, the delegation paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are enshrined.
The delegation also visited the Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteers in the Sunan District of Pyongyang, a burial site for Chinese soldiers who participated in the Korean War, and toured the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers' Party, the highest educational institution for training party officials in North Korea.
The delegation took commemorative photos against the backdrop of a tree planted by Chairman Kim and President Xi during the latter's visit to North Korea last month.
At the banquet held at the Yanggakdo International Hotel to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the treaty, Premier Pak Hun delivered a speech evaluating the Chinese delegation's visit as a "meaningful occasion that demonstrates the strategic nature of the treaty and the vitality of DPRK-China friendship." He stated, "We will actively promote the new blossoming and development of the two countries' common prosperity and friendship, and will march forward firmly hand-in-hand with our Chinese comrades on the journey to oppose hegemonism and victoriously advance the cause of socialism."
At the event, Chairman Wang recalled that "the peoples of the two countries have forged a great militant friendship with their blood in the struggle to achieve national independence and liberation while sharing life and death," and stated that the Chinese government's firm position on bilateral friendly relations will remain unchanged, according to the report.
(Photo: KCNA, Yonhap News)
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