China’s Xi Jinping vows to take ‘valuable friendship’ with North Korea to new heights
- Chinese president hails North Korea’s socialist achievements in congratulatory message to Kim Jong-un on the country’s 73rd National Day
- Pyongyang marks occasion with military parade, but official media does not mention any strategic weapons display
As a friend, China was “sincerely glad” to see that North Korea’s socialist causes had enjoyed “vigorous development”, Xi said in his message to mark North Korea’s 73rd National Day on Thursday.
“For the past 73 years since the founding of the DPRK, the Workers’ Party of Korea has led the DPRK people to make unremitting efforts and great achievements in promoting socialist causes,” Xi said, using the official abbreviation for North Korea’s formal name – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Xi also pledged to further develop the “long-lasting friendship” between China and North Korea, calling it a shared valuable asset, according to Xinhua.
“In recent years, I have maintained close communication with [Workers’ Party] General Secretary Kim Jong-un, leading the steady development of China-DPRK relations and … adding new connotations to the traditional friendship between the two sides.”