China stated that during the North Korea–China summit held on June 8–9 through General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang, the two leaders exchanged views on regional affairs and agreed to maintain strategic communication through future summits and the dispatch of special envoys.

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Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, stated that both sides agreed to continue maintaining strategic communication following the North Korea–China summit. / Xinhua News Agency

According to a June 10 report by state‑run Xinhua News Agency, Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China responsible for “party‑to‑party diplomacy,” explained the outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to North Korea to accompanying reporters.

He stated, “Promoting long‑term regional stability and creating a peaceful and stable environment for development are common goals of both China and North Korea. During this visit, President Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong‑un exchanged in‑depth views on current international and regional affairs.”

Liu added, “Facing unprecedented changes in a century, the two leaders strengthened strategic communication and coordination. They emphasized firmly safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests, jointly protecting regional peace and development, and creating better external conditions for the socialist cause of both countries.”

He further noted, “The top leaders of both nations agreed to maintain close strategic communication through summits, exchanges of letters and oral messages, and the dispatch of special envoys, thereby continuously injecting contemporary significance into China–North Korea relations. Both sides highly valued the importance of the ‘China–North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance’ in advancing bilateral ties and safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, and agreed to jointly commemorate the treaty’s 65th anniversary.”

At the summit on June 8, Xi proposed strengthening exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement, and the military as new areas of cooperation between China and North Korea. He also reaffirmed willingness to cooperate across nearly all sectors, including trade, agriculture, construction, science and technology, healthcare, education, culture, tourism, sports, youth, and local governance.

Against this backdrop, China reiterated the importance of maintaining strategic communication through bilateral summits and envoy exchanges, as well as the significance of the friendship treaty—often described as an alliance pact. Diplomatic sources in Beijing interpret this as signaling a more proactive phase of North Korea–China engagement.

                                                                                                            Hong Soon‑do