Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, held talks with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Beijing on Thursday evening.
During the talks, Xi said China and the DPRK are good neighbors, friends, and comrades who share a common destiny and stand by each other. Noting that China and the DPRK enjoy a long history of profound friendship, Xi said Kim's attendance at China's gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War showed the DPRK's firm resolve to safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, and provided an important opportunity for the two parties and two countries to further develop friendly and cooperative relations.
Xi said the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, and stand ready to effectively maintain, consolidate and develop bilateral ties.
China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with the DPRK, and carry out practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.
Lauding the DPRK's active support and response to the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, Xi called on the two countries to enhance strategic coordination in international and regional affairs and safeguard common interests.
Xi said that China upholds an objective and fair position on Korean Peninsula issues, and is willing to intensify coordination with the DPRK in efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula.
For his part, Kim said that China's V-Day commemorations displayed China's determination in defending world peace, noting that the DPRK and China have the obligation to carry forward the deep friendship forged by the older generation of leaders of both countries.
Kim said it is the DPRK's firm will to continuously deepen and develop relations with China, noting that the DPRK is ready to work with China to implement closer exchanges at all levels between the two parties and countries, and deepen mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation.
Kim said the DPRK appreciates China's objective and impartial position on Korean Peninsula issues, and is willing to further enhance coordination with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, and safeguard the common and fundamental interests of both sides.
Following their talks, Xi also had a chat over tea with Kim and held a banquet for him on Thursday evening.
Xi holds talks with DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un
Xi holds talks with DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un
