SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - The foreign ministers of North Korea and China agreed to strengthen bilateral ties during their meeting in Pyongyang, state media reported on Friday.
According to the state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Pyongyang the previous day, held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui.
North Korea rolled out a red carpet for Wang upon his arrival, as he was "warmly met by Choe" along with "the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army lined up at the apron of Pyongyang International Airport where the national flags of the two countries were fluttering."
Wang's two-day trip marks his first in more than six years since his last visit there in September 2019.
During their talks at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse later in the day, Wang and Choe "agreed on further deepening the diversified exchanges and cooperation," KCNA said.
The two sides also vowed to strengthen "strategic understanding" between the two countries' foreign policy organs, as this year marks the 65th anniversary of their "treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance," it added.
Choe said the two traditional allies' "friendly and cooperative relations are dynamically developing on a new high level," adding that they would further strengthen the bilateral ties "with the common ideal of socialism as fundamental foundation in accordance with the desire and in the interests of the two peoples."
At a reception after their talks, Wang said, "The traditional China-[North Korea] friendship is a valuable common asset formed in the revolutionary struggle and persistently develops in the course of socialist construction," expressing thanks for the North's "warm hospitality."
He also said the "historic meeting" of Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in September last year "opened a new chapter of the friendly and cooperative relations" between the two countries.
Wang's visit came just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned trip to Beijing next month, though neither side mentioned whether it came up in their talks.
According to the state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Pyongyang the previous day, held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui.
North Korea rolled out a red carpet for Wang upon his arrival, as he was "warmly met by Choe" along with "the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army lined up at the apron of Pyongyang International Airport where the national flags of the two countries were fluttering."
Wang's two-day trip marks his first in more than six years since his last visit there in September 2019.
During their talks at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse later in the day, Wang and Choe "agreed on further deepening the diversified exchanges and cooperation," KCNA said.
The two sides also vowed to strengthen "strategic understanding" between the two countries' foreign policy organs, as this year marks the 65th anniversary of their "treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance," it added.
Choe said the two traditional allies' "friendly and cooperative relations are dynamically developing on a new high level," adding that they would further strengthen the bilateral ties "with the common ideal of socialism as fundamental foundation in accordance with the desire and in the interests of the two peoples."
At a reception after their talks, Wang said, "The traditional China-[North Korea] friendship is a valuable common asset formed in the revolutionary struggle and persistently develops in the course of socialist construction," expressing thanks for the North's "warm hospitality."
He also said the "historic meeting" of Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in September last year "opened a new chapter of the friendly and cooperative relations" between the two countries.
Wang's visit came just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned trip to Beijing next month, though neither side mentioned whether it came up in their talks.
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