Chinese, North Korean officials vow to boost strategic ties in Beijing talks
- Communist Party’s No 4 leader calls for the neighbours to ‘deepen collaboration’
- Head of Pyongyang delegation says it’s a ‘new historical chapter’ in bilateral relations
Officials from Beijing and Pyongyang have vowed to boost strategic ties and strengthen cooperation, amid tensions between both countries and the US-led West.
The delegation led by Kim Song-nam – who heads the international unit of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea – arrived in Beijing on Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. The delegation will also travel to Vietnam and Laos.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Beijing and Pyongyang.
During Thursday’s talks, Wang, the Communist Party’s No 4 leader, told Kim that Beijing was willing to work closely with Pyongyang to implement the consensus reached by their top leaders to “advance the friendship” between the two countries.
He called on both sides to “deepen collaboration, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly work for a peaceful and stable external environment”.
In response, Kim said bilateral ties had “opened a new historical chapter” and voiced hope that the two countries could “promote exchanges and cooperation” in various fields this year.
In a separate meeting with Kim, Liu also hailed the “new chapter” of bilateral ties and pledged to deepen communication and exchanges, especially inter-party exchanges, and “promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity”.
The visit comes as China continues to tilt towards North Korea and Russia, while the United States looks to strengthen its alliances with countries in the region – including South Korea, Japan and the Philippines – to counter Beijing.
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China remains one of North Korea’s last few diplomatic allies and Pyongyang’s biggest economic benefactor, although its exports to the North shrank 13.5 per cent in January-February from a year earlier, according to official Chinese data.
The delegation’s trip is part of Pyongyang’s efforts to break its diplomatic isolation and renew engagement with friendly nations after years of pandemic restrictions.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Kim – who was an interpreter for North Korea’s late founder Kim Il-sung and his son, late former leader Kim Jong-il – is known as a China expert.
It is Kim Song-nam’s first known overseas trip since 2021, when he was appointed to the post handling party-to-party affairs with socialist countries.
Pundits have voiced concerns about the return of Cold War-style confrontation in East Asia, with the de facto alliance between Beijing, Pyongyang and Moscow aimed at countering Washington’s security alliance with Tokyo and Seoul.
