The letter was a response to the North Korean leader's congratulations on China's October 1 National Day. Xi stressed that the two countries are “comrades sharing fate and helping each other, whose traditional friendship is only becoming stronger with time.”
The Chinese leader announced his readiness to “strengthen strategic coordination in international and regional affairs” in order to “jointly uphold peace in the region and international equality and justice.”
The article continues below the video
KCNA also reported on the meeting between North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae Song and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who was visiting Pyongyang. Pak assured of “strong support” for Beijing's policy on key interests, “including Taiwan.” He emphasized the will to “jointly oppose hegemonism and defend a just international order.”
Li expressed readiness to support each other in multilateral arenas. The Chinese delegation that came to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea left Pyongyang on Friday.
Recently, relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have warmed. Kim, next to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, was the most important guest during the large military parade in Beijing on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Far East. During their meeting on this occasion, Xi and Kim pledged to strengthen cooperation and bilateral exchanges. Last week, a congratulatory letter was sent to Kim on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The South Korean Yonhap agency points out that economic exchange between Pyongyang and Beijing, which has remained stagnant for years, may gain momentum as both countries strive to normalize relations and resume high-level contacts. This may be manifested by, among others: the opening of a land border crossing for postal services between these countries in September after five years.
