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N Korean, Chinese leaders vow greater cooperation in face of foreign hostility: Report

WION Web Team
Seoul Updated: Jul 11, 2021, 09:09 AM IST
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and China's President Xi Jinping (file photo). Photograph:(Reuters)

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In a message to China's President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said their relationship is vital in the face of hostile foreign forces. Meanwhile, Xi promised to bring cooperation 'to a new stage', according to a KCNA report

According to a report of North Korea's KCNA news agency on Sunday, the leaders of North Korea and China have traded messages vowing to strengthen cooperation on the anniversary of their treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the two countries.

While giving a message to China's President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said their relationship is vital in the face of hostile foreign forces, while Jinping promised to bring cooperation 'to a new stage', KCNA said.

In the message, Kim said, "Despite the unprecedentedly complicated international situation in recent years, the comradely trust and militant friendship between the DPRK and China gets stronger day by day."

China has been North Korea's only major ally since the two signed the treaty in 1961, and international sanctions imposed over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes have made it more dependent than ever on Beijing for trade and other support.

The treaty is defending socialism and peace in Asia 'now that the hostile forces become more desperate in their challenge and obstructive moves," Kim said.

Xi said he plans to provide greater happiness to the two countries and their people by strengthening communication with Kim and 'by steadily leading the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries to a new stage,' KCNA said.

(With inputs from agencies)