The President of China, Xi Jinpingtoday exchanged congratulatory messages with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Unon the occasion of 75th anniversary of the establishment of ties between Beijing and Pyongyangand highlighted the “traditional friendship” between the two countries, which has “withstood the challenges of a changing international situation”.
Xi said the two countries “They supported each other in consolidating popular power and safeguarding national sovereignty.“, according to a press release published by the public television channel CCTV.
The Chinese president said that Beijing and Pyongyang “favored “socialist construction” and that they “collaborated closely in the promotion of regional peace and stability” and in the cause of “maintaining international justice and equity.”
Xi added that the anniversary is “an opportunity to strengthen strategic communication and coordination and deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation.
For his part, Kim said the two countries “They overcame all kinds of trials and challenges and courageously advanced on the path of socialism.“, according to CCTV.
The North Korean leader said it was “of fundamental interest that the two countries inherit and develop their long-standing friendship, as in the past.”
The exchange of messages comes at a time when relations between the two neighbors appear to have cooled, coinciding with the strong rapprochement between North Korea and Russia.
The two countries celebrate on this occasion the “Year of Friendship between North Korea and China” on the aforementioned 75th anniversary, but exchanges between the two in 2024 have been strangely limited.
However, China remains North Korea’s main strategic and trading partnere, a country with which it shares a border of more than 1,400 kilometers.
