As Chinese President Xi Jinping pays a state visit to North Korea on the 8th for the first time in seven years, he published an op-ed in North Korea's party newspaper Rodong Sinmun that day, pledging to safeguard North Korea–China strategic cooperation and a United Nations-centered international order. In the op-ed released on the 8th, Xi presented a vision to solidify bilateral communication in step with the trends of the times and to jointly lead a multipolar international community. This is seen as a move to express to domestic and foreign audiences a strong will to reject a U.S.-centered unipolar hegemonic system and establish a multilateral order.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency that day, Xi strongly called for unity between the two countries in a front-page Rodong Sinmun op-ed. "We must, in line with the trend of the times, strengthen strategic communication and coordination and jointly safeguard an international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law," Xi said in the piece. With the 65th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral friendship treaty serving as a historic turning point, the message is seen as aiming to elevate the strategic partnership to an unprecedented level.
Throughout the op-ed, Xi emphasized a multipolar order and opposition to hegemony. He put at the forefront a world multipolarity that is equal and orderly and an inclusive economic globalization that delivers broad benefits. He also made clear opposition to power politics and attempts to revive militarism. He went on to cite China's 15th Five-Year Plan taking root and the North Korean Labor Party's 9th Congress strategic deployment, assessing that "the two countries have entered new independent paths." It is a gambit to counter the U.S. Donald Trump administration's pressure in step with North Korea.
Xi also actively showcased his rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the op-ed. "The greatest strength of China and North Korea is the strategic communication between the top leaders," Xi said, noting that he had met Chairman Kim six times. He then proposed that "all sectors of the party, government, and military come and go like relatives." He argued for supporting socialist paths suited to each side's circumstances and for deep exchanges on party management and state governance experience.
The op-ed also set out an economic cooperation plan to organically link China's and North Korea's development strategies. Xi stressed, "We should adopt diverse forms to invigorate exchanges and pass the baton of friendship from generation to generation." The statement appears to pledge to unearth cooperation potential across all sectors to spur joint development and substantively improve people's welfare.
Diplomatic experts said the op-ed also reflects China's calculation not to lose its grip over Pyongyang amid the tightening North Korea–Russia military alignment. William Yang, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said in an interview with the U.K.'s EDIFi24 that "North Korea is building a close relationship with Russia," adding, "Through this message, China seeks to reassert its influence over Pyongyang and protect its strategic interests in Northeast Asia."