▲ 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, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on July 17.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un 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 today that Kim met with the Chinese party and government delegation led by Wang yesterday, July 16.
Kim expressed his gratitude for the "well-wishes and comradely greetings" from President Xi Jinping conveyed by Wang, and requested that his own "greetings" be relayed to the Chinese president.
Kim highly evaluated 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, "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 "is playing a crucial 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 his 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 as the core, more vibrantly across various fields in line with the changing demands of the era and the aspirations and desires of the peoples of the two countries."
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, Wang expressed his gratitude for the North Korean side's hospitality toward the delegation 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 assistance."
The news of the Chinese delegation's visit to Kim was reported on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, which is read by North Korean residents.
While China's state-run Xinhua News Agency only reported on the delegation's attendance at the banquet commemorating the 65th anniversary of the treaty in a previous article, it covered the overall details of the visit, including Wang's meeting with Kim, in a follow-up report today.
According to Xinhua, Kim stated that the "historic visit to North Korea by President Xi served as a milestone in making DPRK-China relations a model for relations between socialist countries."
Xinhua reported that while congratulating the Communist Party of China on its 105th anniversary, Kim said that North Korea would adhere to the principle of making the development of DPRK-China relations its most important strategic task.
Kim also said that he would strengthen high-level exchanges with China, deepen the exchange of experience regarding party building, and enhance political and strategic mutual trust, while expanding cooperation in fields such as the economy, science and technology, public health, and culture to bring more benefits to the people of both countries.
North Korean media reported that the delegation carried out various activities in addition to the meeting with Kim.
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.
According to the report, the flower basket laid by the delegation bore a ribbon that read, "Comrade Kim Il-sung and Comrade Kim Jong-il will be immortal," and Wang wrote in the guestbook after the visit, "DPRK-China friendship will be passed down through generations."
The delegation also visited the Cemetery of the Fallen Soldiers 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 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 Kim and President Xi during the latter's visit to North Korea last month.
Xinhua also mentioned that Wang visited Wonsan.
Although specific details of the visit were not disclosed, Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, who held talks with the delegation on July 15, accompanied them on the inspection.
At the banquet commemorating the 65th anniversary of the treaty held at the Yanggakdo International Hotel that day, Premier of the Cabinet Pak Tae-song said in a speech that the Chinese delegation's visit was a "meaningful occasion that demonstrates the strategic nature of the treaty and the vitality of DPRK-China friendship." He added, "We will firmly join hands with our Chinese comrades on the journey to actively promote the new blossoming and development of the two countries' common prosperity and friendship, oppose hegemonism, and victoriously advance the socialist cause."
The agency reported that at the event, Wang recalled that "the peoples of the two countries shared life and death, and forged a great militant friendship with blood in the struggle to achieve national independence and the liberation of their countries," and stated that the Chinese government's firm stance on bilateral friendly relations would remain unchanged.
(Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News)
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