BEIJING (Dispatches) – The leaders of North Korea and China traded messages vowing to strengthen cooperation on the anniversary of their treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the two countries, North Korea’s KCNA news agency reported on Sunday.
In a message to China’s Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said their relationship was vital in the face of hostile foreign forces, while Xi promised to bring cooperation “to a new stage,” KCNA said.
China has been North Korea’s major ally since the two signed the treaty in 1961.
“Despite the unprecedentedly complicated international situation in recent years the comradely trust and militant friendship between the DPRK and China get stronger day by day,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying in his message. DPRK stands for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The treaty is defending peace in Asia “now that the hostile forces become more desperate in their challenge and obstructive moves,” Kim said.
In his message, the Chinese president said he plans to strengthen communication with North Korea “by steadily leading the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries to a new stage.”
In a separate statement, Wang Wenbin a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday that the treaty, which has for decades promised peaceful cooperation between the two nations, will remain in effect all the time until Beijing and Pyongyang reach an agreement to amend or terminate it.
He said that China, North Korea’s major ally, “will continue to play a constructive role, until lasting peace and stability is achieved on the Korean Peninsula.”
“China’s position on the Korean Peninsula issue is always clear,” Wang said. “The issue of the Korean Peninsula is at China’s doorstep.”
Wang noted that the U.S. should attach importance to addressing the legitimate and reasonable concerns of North Korea, and support inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation.
North Korea has long been under harsh United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs. The U.S. has spearheaded those sanctions and has imposed several rounds of its own. Washington’s hostile policies apply to Beijing and Moscow as well.
China and Russia have vigorously denounced new sanctions imposed by the United States against dozens of their companies and entities.
The U.S. on Friday announced sanctions against 23 Chinese companies and other entities “for their involvement in, or risk of becoming involved in, activities contrary to interests of United States.”
Fourteen companies were blacklisted over accusations of involvement in alleged human rights abuses in the far-west Xinjiang region, five for their ties to China’s military, and another four for doing business with other firms that had already been sanctioned by the U.S.
The U.S. also imposed sanctions on six individuals and legal entities from Russia on Friday, drawing a rebuke from Moscow.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Sunday demanded that Washington reverse the move or face retaliatory measures.