China commemorated the 65th anniversary of its Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance with North Korea during a celebratory event in Beijing on Friday, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday.
Senior Officials Attend Ceremony
The event was attended by Cai Qi, director of the general office of the Chinese Communist Party’s central committee, and North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song, among other dignitaries. In his speech, Cai highlighted the continuous development of bilateral ties since the treaty was signed on July 11, 1961.
“Under the strategic guidance of the leaders in the two nations, our relationship has entered a new historical phase,” Cai said, as reported by the ministry. “With the leaders’ important consensus as strategic guidelines, I hope we will inherit our traditional friendship and take socialist projects and friendly cooperation ties to a new level.”
North Korea’s Response
In response, Pak noted that the recent summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang provided “strong momentum” to further deepen bilateral relations. “Let’s expand our cooperation across the board and write a new chapter of our friendly ties together,” Pak said.
Meeting with Chinese Premier
On Saturday, Pak met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. Li emphasized the need for China and North Korea to strengthen strategic cooperation as socialist states amidst the constantly changing international landscape. “Developing China-North Korea ties is a steadfast policy for the Chinese party and government,” Li stated. “We must implement key agreements reached by our two leaders and inherit the spirit of our treaty by strengthening high-level exchange and political mutual trust.”
Expanding Cooperation
According to Chinese officials, Pak assured Li that North Korea will fully support China’s efforts to protect its core interests and will expand cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, science, technology, and the humanities. The Chinese foreign ministry did not specify the exact venue in Beijing where the anniversary event took place.
