Xi sends North Korea a National Day message, calling development of ties a firm policy

Chinese President Xi Jinping used North Korea’s 78th founding anniversary to reaffirm Beijing’s commitment to developing ties with Pyongyang.

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Over the past 78 years, under the leadership of the Workers’ Party, the North Korean people have pursued self-reliance, united and struggled, and promoted development in all areas of socialism.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi sent Kim Jong Un a congratulatory message on the 9·9 holiday. He said that over the past 78 years, the North Korean people had promoted development across socialist sectors through self-reliance, unity and struggle under the Workers’ Party’s leadership.

Xi singled out recent years, saying Kim had led the party and people in pursuing economic and social construction across the country and achieving a series of development results. “China is sincerely pleased about this,” he said.

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China is sincerely pleased about this.

He also said he believed the North Korean people would accomplish the goals and tasks set out at the party’s ninth congress and open a new phase in party and state construction. Xi described China and North Korea as “socialist friendly neighboring countries that help each other and share a common destiny,” adding that safeguarding, consolidating and developing relations between the two countries remained a firm policy of the Chinese party and government.

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China and North Korea are socialist friendly neighboring countries that help each other and share a common destiny.