China, North Korea pledge deeper strategic ties amid shifting global dynamics

PYONGYANG: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, pledging closer cooperation to advance shared strategic and developmental goals.

Wang made the remarks during a high-level meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who also serves as general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK.

During the meeting, Wang conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and congratulated Pyongyang on the successful convening of the 9th Congress of the WPK and the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly. He expressed confidence that under Kim’s leadership, North Korea’s socialist development would continue to achieve new progress.

Recalling Kim’s visit to China last September, Wang noted that the summit between Xi and Kim had provided strategic direction and opened new avenues for bilateral relations. He emphasised China’s willingness to expand exchanges and deepen practical cooperation, giving renewed relevance to the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

Highlighting shared ideological alignment, Wang said both nations, as socialist states led by communist parties, are bound by common values and objectives. In the face of a complex and evolving global environment, he stressed the need for both sides to safeguard their sovereignty, security, and development interests while enhancing coordination on regional and international issues.

For his part, Kim Jong Un welcomed Wang and asked him to convey his greetings to Xi Jinping. He recalled his previous meeting with the Chinese leader, describing the implementation of their consensus as a key factor in elevating bilateral ties to new heights.

Kim underscored that strengthening relations with China remains a strategic priority for Pyongyang, particularly amid rapidly changing global dynamics. He described the deepening of DPRK-China cooperation as aligned with the interests of both nations and reaffirmed it as a consistent policy of the North Korean leadership.

The North Korean leader also voiced strong support for China’s vision of building a “community with a shared future for humanity” and endorsed Beijing’s major global initiatives. He reiterated Pyongyang’s backing of China’s stance on issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the Taiwan question.

Kim further stated that North Korea is committed to expanding high-level exchanges, enhancing strategic communication, and providing mutual support to China, with the aim of advancing their respective socialist systems and contributing to regional and global stability.

During his visit, Wang Yi also held detailed discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and paid tribute to Chinese People’s Volunteers who lost their lives during the Korean War, laying wreaths at memorial sites in Kangdong County.

The visit underscores renewed diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Pyongyang at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments, with both countries signalling a unified stance on key global and regional challenges.