Xi Hails N. Korea Trip as Milestone in Bilateral Relations

(MENAFN) Chinese President Xi Jinping has formally thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the reception extended during his landmark state visit to Pyongyang, declaring the trip a resounding success and a turning point in relations between the two neighboring states, state-run media reported Wednesday.

Kim received a personal message from Xi on Tuesday conveying gratitude on behalf of the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, and the Chinese people, media reported. In it, Xi praised Kim, his wife Ri Sol Ju, and the North Korean government and people for orchestrating a warm and enthusiastic welcome for the Chinese delegation — a gesture he said reflected the deep-rooted traditional friendship binding the two socialist neighbors.

Xi said the two leaders held wide-ranging talks covering issues of shared concern, culminating in a series of significant agreements. He described the discussions as injecting "new contents of the times" into the China-North Korea relationship, and cited the outcomes as evidence of both nations' resolve to deepen cooperation, advance their respective development, and uphold stability across the region.

Expressing satisfaction with the visit's results, Xi declared that ties between Beijing and Pyongyang had embarked on a "new historic journey" — and voiced hope for a future meeting with Kim, pledging joint efforts to further cement bilateral relations and contribute to broader global peace and development.

Xi touched down in Beijing on Tuesday, concluding a rare two-day trip to North Korea — his first visit in nearly seven years — during which both leaders publicly committed to reinforcing their alliance and steering relations into what Xi termed a "new era."

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