A New Chapter

　　Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will have a signifi cant impact on sustaining the bilateral relationship.

　　The two-day visit on June 20-21 took place against a backdrop of complex and unprecedented changes worldwide. As the international landscape is being reshaped, Northeast Asia is playing a major role. Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in all of Northeast Asia are of strategic importance for the region and beyond. As a major economy and global player, China has an additional responsibility to ensure peace in its neighborhood, which is in line with China’s interests.

　　The visit took place as a prelude to the 70th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic ties. Highly anticipated and given a rousing welcome, it set the tone for a new chapter in the long-time bilateral friendship, forged and nurtured by the older generation of leaders of both countries, such as Mao Zedong and Kim Il Sung. Current top leaders of the two countries have also maintained close interactions. Xi’s visit marked his fi fth meeting with Kim Jong Un in the past 15 months, highlighting the close ties between the two countries at a top level and on major issues concerning the region and beyond.

　　The close interactions and strategic communications between the two leaders have deepened the China-DPRK relationship, reached consensus on critical issuesand resulted in a joint blueprint for future cooperation. Taking the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as an opportunity to expand practical cooperation, the two countries will deepen friendly exchanges and broaden communication in education, health, sports, media and youth as well as at regional levels.

　　The visit came at a key and sensitive time in Korean Peninsula peace talks. The meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in February, the second such summit, failed to reach a deal. Therefore, Xi’s visit is being seen as an important move to advance a political solution toward peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

　　On this issue, China has been playing a responsible role. It has advocated denuclearization of the peninsula, promoted peace and stability and aimed to reach a solution through dialogues and negotiations. Xi has affirmed that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the DPRK and other parties concerned to promote denuclearization talks and contribute to regional pea ce, stability and prosperity. The friendship and peace trip not only signals China’s determination to consolidate traditional ties, but also to support the DPRK in implementing new development strategies and promoting a political solution to the
peninsula nuclear issue.

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