Xi Jinping met DPRK Premier Pak Thae Song in Beijing on July 10, using the visit to press for stronger bilateral ties and implementation of agreements reached with Kim Jong Un.
65 years after the China-DPRK friendship treaty, Xi said both sides should expand practical cooperation, build public support and strengthen strategic coordination to defend sovereignty, security and development interests.
Pak delivered Kim's greetings and said Pyongyang wants to build the relationship into the "strongest strategic relationship," while pledging support for China on core interests including Taiwan.
The meeting followed Xi's state visit to North Korea last month, which both sides cast as a new milestone as they seek to keep the alliance aligned with their socialist and modernization goals.