North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his support in last week's groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump, the North's official media reported Wednesday.
In this photo provided by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center right, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, Xi's wife Peng Liyuan, right, and Kim's wife Ri Sol Ju, left, pose for photo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Ju Peng/Xinhua via AP)
Kim is in Beijing on his third visit to China this year, underscoring the major improvement in relations between the communist neighbors.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his support in last week's groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump, the North's official media reported Wednesday.
Kim is in Beijing on his third visit to China this year, underscoring the major improvement in relations between the communist neighbors.
KCNA said that during a banquet hosted by Xi, Kim also said Pyongyang and Beijing are seeing their ties develop into "unprecedentedly special relations."
There was no official word on Kim's activities on Wednesday, although South Korea's Yonhap news agency said his motorcade was seen at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing.
That could allow the lifting of U.N. Security Council economic sanctions that have brought about a plunge in the North's foreign trade, although the U.S. insists easing of sanctions can only come after Pyongyang shows it has ended its nuclear programs. The U.S. says China is in agreement on that point, although Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that sanctions should not be considered an end to their own.
A report by the Korean Central News Agency said Kim expressed his gratitude to Xi in a meeting on Tuesday, during which Xi "gave high appreciation and extended heartfelt congratulations" to Kim over the summit.
In this June 19, 2018, photo provided on June 20, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, toasts with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
KCNA said that during a banquet hosted by Xi, Kim also said Pyongyang and Beijing are seeing their ties develop into "unprecedentedly special relations."
At the summit with Trump in Singapore, Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization in exchange for U.S. security guarantees. The U.S. and South Korea suspended a major joint military exercise that was planned in August in what was seen as a major victory for North Korea and its chief allies, China and Russia.
In this June 19, 2018, photo provided on June 20, 2018, by the North Korean government, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, inspect the honor guard at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
There was no official word on Kim's activities on Wednesday, although South Korea's Yonhap news agency said his motorcade was seen at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing.
China has pressed North Korea to adopt economic reforms and has touted the prospects of increased trade and investment if Pyongyang makes progress in talks on abandoning its nuclear weapons and long-range missile programs.
In this June 19, 2018, photo provided on June 20, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from left, and his wife Ri Sol Ju, left, are greeted by Wang Huning, member of the Politburo Standing Committee, on their arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
That could allow the lifting of U.N. Security Council economic sanctions that have brought about a plunge in the North's foreign trade, although the U.S. insists easing of sanctions can only come after Pyongyang shows it has ended its nuclear programs. The U.S. says China is in agreement on that point, although Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that sanctions should not be considered an end to their own.
Chinese media reported that in the Tuesday talks, Xi told Kim that he hopes Pyongyang and Washington can fully implement the summit outcomes and that China would "as always play a constructive role" in that process.
In this June 19, 2018, photo provided on June 20, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, and his wife Ri Sol Ju, center left, arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
The U.S. has long looked to China to use its influence with North Korea to bring it to negotiations, but the visit comes as ties between Beijing and Washington are being tested by a major trade dispute.
Kim is expected to return to Pyongyang on Wednesday.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attacked the United States for earlier blocking United Nations resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting with his counterpart in Indonesia.
The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers reiterated their countries' calls for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas.
The U.S., together with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a brief cease-fire earlier in the war that included some swaps of hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups in return for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and has sought to bring about a new deal.
But the U.S. vetoed a number of proposed U.N. Security Council cease-fire resolutions because they didn’t tie the calls directly to the release of Israel hostages or condemn Hamas’ attack that prompted the war before allowing a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March.
The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told reporters that the two countries share the same view about the importance of a cease-fire and of resolving the Palestinian problem through a two-state solution.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians and does not recognize Israel.
“I am sure that China would use its influence to prevent escalation,” Marsudi said, adding that China and Indonesia "would also fully support Palestine’s membership in the U.N.”
Wang blamed the United States for holding up cease-fire resolutions at the U.N.
“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century. The United Nations Security Council responded to the call of the international community and continued to review the resolution draft on the cease-fire in Gaza, but it was repeatedly vetoed by the United States,” Wang told reporters.
American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire. China and Russia also vetoed one U.S.-backed cease-fire resolution, saying it was not strong enough.
Referring to the resolution that was approved by the Security Council in March, Wang said: “This time, the U.S. did not dare to stand in opposition to international morality and chose to abstain. However, the U.S. claimed that this resolution was not binding," Wang said. “In the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it.”
The two ministers also discussed their countries' economic relationship and the South China Sea.
China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with the trade volume reaching more than $127 billion. China is also one of Indonesia's largest foreign investors, with investment flows of more than $7.4 billion in 2023.
Later Thursday, Wang also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and president-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is currently defense minister.
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, greets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, stands next to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as Wang signs a guest book in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim/Pool)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi , left, shakes hands with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi gestures as she speaks during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, right, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures as he speaks during his bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, left, speaks during their bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, speaks during a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, bottom second left, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, walks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
