(Xinhua/Yan Yan)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President, said on Monday that China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) should consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust and strengthen practical cooperation.
Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK.
Xi noted that after seven years, he was very happy to visit the beautiful city of Pyongyang again, where he felt a special warmth and familiarity.
He said he is ready to work with Kim to make this visit an opportunity to strengthen the highest-level planning and strategic direction of China-DPRK relations in the new era, ensure that bilateral relations evolve with the times and achieve new progress in the relations, so as to better serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples, and make positive contributions to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of the region and the world.
Stressing that China and the DPRK are both socialist countries led by communist parties, Xi said the traditional friendship between the two countries is rooted in their shared ideals and beliefs and common goals, and is based on a deep historical foundation, a solid political foundation and strong emotional ties.
Friendship passed down from generation to generation, a common future and mutual support have always been the defining characteristics of China-DPRK relations, Xi noted.
No matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese Party and government’s firm stance of attaching great importance to the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK will not change, the unwavering support for General Secretary Kim in leading the DPRK’s socialist cause will not change, and the firm commitment to safeguarding the common interests of the two countries and maintaining a favorable strategic environment will not change, Xi said.
Xi stressed that in the face of profound changes unprecedented in a century that are accelerating across the world, the two sides should take a broad and long-term view, rely on the achievements of the past to pave the way for a new future, learn from the process of developing relations between the two parties and two countries, seize the opportunities brought by the dominant trend in human history, infuse new contemporary connotations and vigorous momentum into the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, and open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of the two countries as well as the peace and development of the region.
During the meeting, Xi put forward four proposals for the development of China-DPRK relations.
The two sides should continue to uphold high-level exchanges as the orientation and consolidate the basis of political mutual trust, Xi recommended. The strategic guidance given by the top leaders of the two countries is the greatest strength of China-DPRK relations, he added, stressing that he is willing to maintain close strategic communication with Kim and guide China-DPRK relations to continually reach new heights.
Recalling that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, Xi said the two sides will hold major commemorative events.
Relations between the two parties play an important guiding role in the development of China-DPRK relations, Xi said, calling for further expanding and invigorating friendly exchanges at various levels and in various fields between the two parties, as well as deepening experience exchange and mutual learning in party and state governance.
The two sides should strengthen exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement, military affairs and others, implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, and pool wisdom and strength for the development of China-DPRK relations, Xi said.
The two sides should remain committed to the goal of bringing benefits to the people and raising the level of their practical cooperation, he said. China is ready to work with the DPRK to strengthen coordination of their development strategies and expand practical cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, agriculture, construction, science and technology, and health care, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, the Chinese president added.
Xi called on the two sides to take advantage of the full reopening of border crossings and the resumption of civil aviation flights and international passenger trains to intensify people-to-people exchanges and promote mutual interactions.
The two sides should make preserving friendship a driving force and strengthen people-to-people ties, Xi said, stressing that the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, forged in blood, is a precious common wealth of the two peoples.
China is ready to work with the DPRK to properly preserve and manage the memorial sites dedicated to the martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteers in the DPRK, implement specific programs on revolutionary traditions and youth education, and pass on the revolutionary heritage and traditional friendship between the two countries, Xi said.
China is also ready to work with the DPRK to make full use of each side’s strengths and resources, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture and arts, tourism, sports, media, youth, local government relations and town-twinning, and ensure that the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK takes deeper roots in the hearts of the two peoples, Xi said.
The Chinese president also called for making fairness and justice a guiding principle to enrich the content of strategic coordination. Xi said that in response to the major question of the future of mankind, he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four global initiatives, which aim to steer global governance toward greater fairness and justice and which have garnered broad support and positive reactions from the international community, including the DPRK.
Noting that Asia is the common home where countries in the region, including China and the DPRK, live and prosper, Xi said the two countries should strengthen strategic coordination, firmly uphold their sovereignty, security and development interests, and work together for regional peace and development.
Calling Xi the most respected guest of the DPRK people, Kim said his country extended the warmest and most cordial welcome to Xi, who is visiting the DPRK after a gap of seven years. Xi’s choice of Pyongyang for his first overseas trip this year fully reflects the great importance he attaches to the DPRK-China relations and the deep friendship between the two countries, which is a huge encouragement to the DPRK side, Kim added.
This visit once again clearly demonstrates that relations between the DPRK and China are indestructible, Kim said. Calling bilateral ties time-tested, Kim said they have always stood on the right side of history and upheld self-reliance and justice.
The special nature of bilateral relations lies not only in the fact that the two countries are close neighbors, but also in the deep traditional friendship and shared ideals and beliefs, which both sides cherish and are committed to passing down from generation to generation, Kim said.
He also recalled his meeting with Xi in Beijing last September, stressing that since then, bilateral relations have recorded positive progress in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.
He expressed sincere gratitude for the important proposals made by Xi to advance DPRK-China relations in the new era, adding that relevant departments of the DPRK will work closely with their Chinese counterparts and make every effort to fully implement these proposals, promote further progress in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, infrastructure, science and technology, education, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen experience exchanges and mutual learning through party channels to provide valuable support for the development of the DPRK’s socialist cause, so as to help the DPRK people advance towards modernization alongside the Chinese people.
Kim said the DPRK is delighted to see that under the leadership of General Secretary Xi, China has made progress that has amazed the world and significantly enhanced its international status.
He stressed that the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives proposed by Xi are of vital importance to promoting global peace and development, and have won the support and admiration of people around the world.
Kim said the international community has undergone profound and unprecedented changes in recent years, saying the DPRK will steadfastly uphold the one-China principle and firmly support China’s policies and positions aimed at safeguarding its core interests.
He stressed that the consolidation and development of the DPRK-China friendship in this new era is the choice of the people of the two countries and a necessity of the times, and remains the constant strategic choice and steadfast strategic determination of the DPRK.
He said the DPRK will, as always, continue to view the development of DPRK-China relations as the country’s top strategic priority, spare no effort to make bilateral relations a model of inter-state relations, and work with China to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
