PYONGYANG, April 14 – Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee, met with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday.
Zhao, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is heading a Chinese party and government delegation on an official goodwill visit to North Korea.
Zhao extended to Kim the kind regards and good wishes of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.
Zhao said he is heading the Chinese party and government delegation to pay an official goodwill visit to the DPRK and attend the opening ceremony of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year,” and that he was warmly received by the WPK and the DPRK government.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the DPRK.
China is willing to work with the DPRK, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of both parties and both countries, to promote bilateral practical and mutually beneficial cooperation to attain new achievements, continue to strongly support each other and safeguard the shared interests of the two countries, he said.
China stands ready for close coordination with the DPRK to ensure the success of all activities of the “China-DPRK Friendship Year,” he added.
Kim asked Zhao to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi.
He stressed that the DPRK-China relations have boasted a profound historical tradition, having withstood various tests and been passed on from generation to generation.
