On the afternoon of June 8 local time, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, held talks with Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party and State President of North Korea, at the Jinsoo Mountain Guest House in Pyongyang.
Xi Jinping pointed out that it is a great pleasure and a special feeling to visit the beautiful Pyongyang once again after 7 years. I would like to work together with Comrade the General Secretary to take this visit as an opportunity to strengthen the top-level design and strategic guidance of China-DPRK relations in the new era. We should promote the development of China-DPRK relations in line with the times, enable it to achieve greater progress, and benefit both the two countries and their peoples better. We should also make positive contributions to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Xi Jinping emphasized that both China and North Korea are socialist countries led by the Communist Party. The traditional friendship between China and North Korea is rooted in common ideals, beliefs, and goals. It has a deep historical foundation, solid political support, and strong emotional bonds. Friendship through generations, shared destiny, and mutual assistance have always been the distinct characteristics of Sino-North Korean relations. No matter how the international situation changes, China's government and Party will continue to uphold their firm stance on traditional friendship with North Korea. We will also continue to strongly support General Secretary Kim Jong-un in leading North Korea's socialist cause. Our determination to safeguard the common interests and a favorable strategic environment for both China and North Korea will remain unchanged.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of the accelerating changes in the world over the past century, both sides should look far ahead and carry on from the past. They should draw wisdom from the development of bilateral relations between the two parties and two countries, seize opportunities in the general trend of human historical development, and inject new elements and strong momentum into the traditional friendship between China and North Korea. This will create a brighter future for the socialist cause of both countries and regional peace and development.
Xi Jinping put forward four suggestions regarding the development of relations between China and North Korea.
First, we must adhere to high-level exchanges as the leading factor, thereby strengthening the foundation of political trust. The strategic guidance provided by the supreme leaders is the greatest advantage in Sino-Korean relations. I wish to maintain close strategic communication with Comrade Secretary, guiding Sino-Korean relations towards new heights. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between China and Korea. Both sides should hold grand commemorative events. The relations between the two parties play an important role in the development of Sino-Korean relations. We should further expand and enrich friendly exchanges at all levels and in all fields, as well as deepen the exchange and mutual learning of experiences in governance. Both sides should strengthen exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military affairs. We must implement the important consensus reached between me and Comrade Secretary, pooling wisdom and strength for the development of Sino-Korean relations.
Secondly, we should adhere to the goal of benefiting the people and enhance the level of practical cooperation. China is willing to strengthen the strategic alignment with the DPRK, expand practical cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, agriculture, construction, technology, and healthcare, so as to better benefit the people of both countries. Both sides should take the full restoration of border crossings, civil aviation flights, and international passenger trains as opportunities to increase exchanges between people and achieve mutual visits.
Third, we must adhere to friendship as the driving force and strengthen the bonds of mutual understanding between the people of China and North Korea. The traditional friendship that has been forged with blood between China and North Korea is a precious common wealth of the two countries' peoples. China is willing to work with North Korea to jointly maintain and manage the memorial facilities for the martyrs of the Korean People's Army well. We will also carry out distinctive revolutionary tradition education and youth education activities, so as to inherit the red genes and traditional friendship between the two countries. China is willing to collaborate with North Korea in making use of their respective advantageous resources, strengthening exchanges and cooperation in education, literature and art, tourism, sports, media, youth affairs, local relations, and sister cities, thereby making the traditional friendship between China and North Korea more deeply rooted in people's hearts.
Fourth, adhere to the concept of fairness and justice, and enrich the content of strategic cooperation. Faced with the major question of where humanity is heading, I have proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives. I hope to promote global governance in a more fair and reasonable direction, gaining widespread support and positive responses from the international community, including the DPRK. Asia is a place where countries in regions such as China and the DPRK can establish their foundations for stability and development. China and the DPRK should strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation, firmly defend their respective rights, security, and development interests, and jointly maintain regional peace and development.
Kim Jong-un stated that Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea after 7 years is a most respected guest by the North Korean people. We extend our warmest and most sincere welcome. General Secretary Xi's first overseas trip this year to Pyongyang demonstrates his high regard for North-South relations and his friendly ties with North Korea, which is a great encouragement to the North Korean side. This visit once again clearly demonstrates how unshakable the North-South relations are, which have been tested over time and have always stood on the correct path of independence and justice. The special nature of North and South Korea lies not only in our being neighboring countries, but also in our deep traditional friendship and common ideals and beliefs, which we cherish and pass down from generation to generation.
Kim Jong-un stated that after our meeting in Beijing last September with General Secretary Xi Jinping, relations between the two countries have developed vigorously in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. He expressed sincere gratitude to General Secretary Xi Jinping for his important suggestions regarding the development of relations between North Korea and China in the new era. The North Korean side will work together with Chinese counterparts to fully implement these suggestions, promoting new developments in exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as economics and trade, infrastructure, technology, education, and humanities. By strengthening experience exchange and mutual learning through party-level channels, valuable support will be provided for the development of North Korea’s socialist cause, helping the people of North Korea to move towards modernization alongside the people of China.
Kim Jong-un stated that the DPRK is pleased to see that under the leadership of Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping, China has achieved remarkable development achievements, and its international status has been greatly enhanced. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, along with his four major global initiatives, are of profound significance in promoting world peace and development. These initiatives have received support and praise from people around the world. In recent years, the international community has been undergoing unprecedented changes. The DPRK will always adhere to the one-China principle and firmly support China's policies and positions regarding the protection of its core interests. Consolidating and developing the DPRK-China friendship is the choice of the people and the need of the times. It is the unchanging strategic choice and resolute strategic determination of the DPRK. We will, as always, regard the development of DPRK-China relations as the country's most important strategic priority. We will do our utmost to build DPRK-China relations into a model of state-to-state relations, and jointly contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and others attended the talks.
