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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their countries’ close strategic relationships with North Korea as Pyongyang celebrated the 78th anniversary of its founding, North Korean state media reported Wednesday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Xi sent a congratulatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressing Beijing’s commitment to strengthening China-North Korea relations.
Xi said he was prepared to “continue strengthening strategic guidance” of bilateral relations and cooperate with Kim to promote the development of both countries.
The Chinese leader also emphasized that strengthening and expanding ties with North Korea remains the “consistent and unwavering policy” of China’s ruling Communist Party and government.
China has long been one of North Korea’s most important political and economic partners, while Pyongyang has also deepened cooperation with Moscow in recent years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin separately sent Kim a message pledging to maintain the “closest joint work” between Russia and North Korea. Putin said continued cooperation would further strengthen the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Russian president added that stronger Moscow-Pyongyang relations would support regional security and contribute to what he described as a “more just, multipolar world order.”
The messages from Xi and Putin appeared prominently on the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, highlighting the importance Pyongyang places on its relationships with Beijing and Moscow.
North Korea marked its founding anniversary on September 9, commemorating the establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948.
KCNA reported that Kim also received congratulatory messages from leaders of several other countries. They included Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Sweden, Belarus, Singapore, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.
The anniversary messages underscore North Korea’s continuing diplomatic engagement with its international partners as Kim’s government maintains close strategic relationships with both China and Russia.
