Kim Jong-un, chairperson of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, and Xi Jinping, president of China, exchanged congratulatory messages marking the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and expressed a willingness to strengthen their strategic cooperative relationship.
On the 11th, the (North) Korean Central News Agency reported that in a congratulatory message Kim sent to Xi that day, the chairperson said he was willing "to guide the DPRK-China (North Korea-China) friendship to a new height, building on its fine history and traditions, and develop it into a model of the most powerful and strategic relations between socialist states."
Kim said of the North Korea-China treaty that it is "a solid legal foundation that can permanently develop the militant friendship and unity, and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, forged in the bloodstained course of struggle for anti-imperialist independence, peace, and the realization of the socialist cause."
He went on to say that "the DPRK-China friendship and cooperation is sublimating and developing today at a new strategic height," and assessed that "amid a complex and ever-changing international situation, it is making a great contribution to firmly upholding the sovereignty, security, and development interests of the two countries, and to safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world."
Regarding Xi's state visit to Pyongyang on the previous month, he emphasized that "through the historic meeting in Pyongyang, I and the general secretary (Xi Jinping) once again affirmed our will to jointly build a beautiful future for the peoples of the two countries on the single road of struggle for the victorious advance of the socialist cause."
Xi Jinping, president of China, also said in a congratulatory message sent to Kim that day that he is willing "to further tighten strategic communication, firmly grasp the direction of development of bilateral relations, guide the bilateral friendship and cooperation to bring greater benefits to the peoples of the two countries, and actively contribute to promoting regional peace and development."
He went on to say of the North Korea-China treaty that it is "an important political and legal foundation for consolidating the militant friendship forged in blood by the peoples of the two countries," and said it "has played an important role in inheriting and developing China-North Korea friendship and in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world."
Regarding last month's visit to Pyongyang, he assessed that "while successfully carrying out a state visit to Korea (North Korea), we reached an important common understanding with the general secretary comrade on inheriting and consolidating the traditional China-North Korea friendship and giving it new significance of the times," and that "we prepared the strategic direction for the development of China-North Korea relations in the new era and a new blueprint."
Xi said, "No matter how the international situation changes, the firm position of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, which place great importance on the traditional China-North Korea friendship, will not change," adding, "The firm determination to safeguard the common interests of both sides and a fine strategic environment will not change."