Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening ties with Kim Jong Un, saying he is ready to work with the North Korean leader to ensure long-term, stable and healthy relations between the two neighbouring countries.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Xi made the remarks in a message sent to Kim after receiving congratulations marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
In his message, Xi described Kim’s greetings as a reflection of the close friendship between the two nations and their ruling parties. He noted that the Communist Party of China and the Workers’ Party of Korea have maintained longstanding cooperation in advancing their socialist systems and safeguarding national independence.
The Chinese leader also expressed his readiness to ensure the implementation of agreements reached during his recent state visit to Pyongyang, with the aim of further strengthening bilateral cooperation across different sectors.
Kim, in his own message, described the recent summit with Xi as a historic milestone and reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with China.
The latest exchange follows Xi’s visit to North Korea last month, where both leaders pledged closer cooperation amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Although North Korea has expanded military cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and weapons in support of Moscow’s war in Ukraine, China remains Pyongyang’s largest trading partner.
According to South Korean government data, China accounted for nearly 98 per cent of North Korea’s foreign trade in 2024.