China's Xinhua News Agency reported on the 9th that Wang Yi, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, who visited North Korea ahead of the U.S.-China summit, met with Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and reaffirmed the will to strengthen bilateral ties.
Director General Wang met Foreign Minister Choe at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse in Pyongyang that day and said, "Over the past year, exchanges between the two countries have been remarkable, showing that the friendship forged with blood is unbreakable," adding, "China will strengthen strategic communication with North Korea, tighten exchanges and cooperation, and jointly promote peace and development."
In response, Foreign Minister Choe said, "The friendship between North Korea and China is deep, solid, and sustainable, based on our shared socialist system and friendly tradition," adding, "Promoting friendly cooperation in line with the trend of the times and the will of the peoples of both countries is North Korea's firm position."
Choe added, "We will work to promote exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and ensure that North Korea-China relations move to a new stage through multilateral communication and cooperation."
In particular, Choe said, "North Korea fully supports the 'one China' principle and firmly opposes interference in China's internal affairs," adding, "We firmly support China's position in safeguarding its core interests, including Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said Choe noted, "We view positively the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and we highly appreciate China's role in international and regional affairs."
The two also emphasized the significance of the North Korea-China summit held on the occasion of Kim Jong-un's visit to China in September last year.
Director General Wang assessed, "Through their historic talks, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong-un reached important common understandings on overall bilateral relations and strategic issues." Foreign Minister Choe also said, "The summit in September last year strengthened friendship and mutual trust."
The two countries also announced plans to carry out various activities to mark the 65th anniversary of the conclusion of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship (1961).
Director General Wang said, "Over the past 65 years, even as international and regional situations have changed, our two countries have always trusted and supported each other and worked for peace and stability in the region and the world," adding, "China is willing to work with North Korea to successfully hold the commemorative activities." Foreign Minister Choe likewise responded, "North Korea will successfully carry out the 65th-anniversary commemorative activities together with China."
Director General Wang will visit North Korea for two days starting that day. This trip is the first in about 6 years and 7 months since September 2019.
China is set to hold a summit with the United States next month, prompting speculation that the two sides may pre-coordinate on the Korean Peninsula issue during this visit to North Korea. In particular, with former U.S. President Donald Trump possibly seeking a meeting with Chairperson Kim Jong-un on the occasion of a visit to China, there is also a prospect that the two sides could exchange views on the possibility of a North Korea-U.S. summit being realized.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The two sides also conducted an in-depth exchange of views on current international and regional issues."