Xi calls on China, DPRK to keep advancing socialist cause, modernization

China

Xi calls on China, DPRK to keep advancing socialist cause, modernization

2026-07-10 19:43 Last Updated At：23:37

China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should ensure that the development of bilateral relations always helps consolidate their respective socialist causes and promote their modernization drives, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK, in Beijing. Pak is also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and vice president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

While the current international situation is volatile and intertwined, Xi said, China and the DPRK should maintain strategic resolve, enhance strategic confidence, and accelerate the implementation of the consensus reached by him and General Secretary Kim Jong Un, ensuring that the relations between the two parties and the two countries keep pace with the times.

Xi called for steadily advancing practical cooperation, continuously consolidating the foundation of public support, and passing down the China-DPRK friendship from generation to generation.

He also emphasized strengthening strategic coordination, firmly safeguarding each other's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and creating a favorable external environment for both countries to pursue socialist paths suited to their respective national conditions.

Pak said that Xi chose the DPRK for his first overseas visit this year, when the top leaders of the two parties and countries held a historic meeting, which has set a new milestone in bilateral relations and further cemented public support for DPRK-China friendship.

He said the two countries' grand commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance once again demonstrates that DPRK-China friendship has withstood the test of international changes and is highly strategic in nature.

Pak said the DPRK side will resolutely implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, firmly support China in safeguarding its core interests on the Taiwan question and other issues, and do its utmost to elevate DPRK-China solidarity, friendship, and socialist cause to new heights.

China's zero-tariff policy spurs Africa's industrialization: Namibian minister

China's zero-tariff policy toward Africa is expected to boost the continent's industrialization and bring benefits to multiple sectors, said Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade.

In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ashipala‑Musavyi said the sweeping tariff measure will accelerate Africa’s industrialization and open new opportunities across trade, services, and tourism.

"The benefits of the gesture from China is going to generate industrialization. We are going to begin to add more value to what we are exporting to China. I think a lot of businesspeople are going to be coming to China and see what are the needs. So, tourism will also benefit and vice versa in terms of transportation, will benefit, services will benefit, people to people will benefit. So, because we see trade as a peace building measure also. We don't just want to trade, we also want to have a better understanding among people. The whole collective will actually benefit from this gesture and we hope that other countries can do the same," she said.

Effective since May 1, the policy grants zero‑tariff access to all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China, making Beijing the first major economy to extend such comprehensive treatment.

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah is paying a state visit to China from July 5 to 11.

On Thursday in Beijing, she met Premier Li Qiang, who called Namibia an important African partner and pledged to carry forward traditional friendship, support each other’s core interests, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation to advance modernization.

Nandi‑Ndaitwah said Namibia values China’s global role and is ready to deepen multilateral coordination to promote regional peace, stability and development.