SEOUL: China’s high legislator and a senior North Korean official emphasised opening a “new chapter” of Beijing-Pyongyang relations, the North’s state media mentioned on Saturday (Apr 13), as they met for one of the vital high-level talks between the allies in years.
Beijing’s third highest-ranking official Zhao Leji – a member of the highly effective Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo – is on a goodwill go to to the nuclear-armed North as the 2 nations mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.
China is North Korea’s most vital financial benefactor and diplomatic ally, obstructing US-led efforts on the UN Security Council alongside Russia to impose stricter sanctions on Kim Jong Un’s authorities in response to its elevated weapons checks.
Zhao and his North Korean counterpart Choe Ryong Hae attended a gap ceremony for the “year of DPRK-China friendship” in Pyongyang on Friday, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency mentioned, utilizing the acronym for the North’s official identify.
In a speech, Zhao mentioned it’s the “consistent strategic policy” of Beijing to “successfully defend, consolidate and develop” China-North Korea relations, based on KCNA.
China is prepared to “thoroughly implement the important common understanding” of the 2 nations and “open up a new chapter of China-DPRK friendship along with the times”, he added.
North Korea’s Choe mentioned the 2 nations’ relationship “has greeted a new heyday under the wise leadership” of their leaders, KCNA mentioned.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/senior-officials-stress-new-chapter-china-north-korea-ties-4262786
