Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un Reaffirm China–North Korea Cooperation with Exchange of Party Congress Messages

[Financial News] North Korea–China summit leaders have reaffirmed China–North Korea cooperation through an exchange of letters. Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Kim Jong Un on his reappointment as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. Kim, in turn, sent a reply to Xi, reiterating cooperation between the two countries. Kim was recently re-elected General Secretary at the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK's largest political gathering.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 10th that, in a reply sent the previous day in the name of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim said, "I believe that, on the road of advancing our common cause of socialism, cooperation between the two parties and the two countries of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China (DPRK–China) will become even closer in the future."
He went on to say, "I express my deep thanks for the warm congratulatory message," adding, "The fact that the General Secretary sent this message is a sign of support and encouragement for me and for all the members of our Party."
Kim added, "It is the steadfast position of our Party and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to continue to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK–China friendship in line with the new demands of the times and the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries."
Earlier, in a congratulatory message dated the 23rd of last month, Xi Jinping congratulated Kim on his reappointment as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and stated, "China and North Korea are socialist friendly neighbors that help each other," adding, "Maintaining, consolidating, and developing China–North Korea relations is the unwavering policy of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government."
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter