Beijing and Pyongyang want to “consolidate” their “friendship” and their “cooperation”

“China is ready to work with North Korea… to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said, according to the state agency New China.

Beijing and Pyongyang “have worked closely to promote regional peace and stability, and uphold international fairness and justice,” he added.

For his part, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang would “constantly strive to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations between (North Korea) and China,” reported the state agency KCNA.

Traditional allies

Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China and North Korea are traditional socialist allies, and Beijing has long provided support to the diplomatically isolated Pyongyang. Analysts say the North Korean regime relies heavily on Chinese companies and banks to circumvent international sanctions.

North Korea has also moved closer to Russia since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. At the end of June, Russian President Vladimir Putin was received with great fanfare by Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. A summit which resulted in the signing of a mutual defense agreement.

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