Kim Jong Un sends Xi Jinping message marking Chinese Communist Party’s 105th anniversary

Lead

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, state media reported on Wednesday. In the message, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen ties with Beijing and described his recent summit with Xi as a “historic occasion” in advancing bilateral relations.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the exchange, Al Jazeera noted that Kim’s message was carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and that the North Korean leader promised to continue strengthening bonds with China. TASS, citing KCNA, reported that Kim congratulated Xi, all party members, and the “brotherly Chinese people,” and expressed confidence that China would achieve new successes in building a modern socialist state. Yonhap News Agency provided additional details, reporting that Kim marked the anniversary with a message reaffirming his commitment to strengthen ties, and later reported Xi’s reply.

Key Claims

Kim’s Message

According to KCNA, as reported by Al Jazeera, TASS, and Yonhap, Kim said: “It is the steadfast stand of our Party and government to steadily develop the DPRK-China friendly relations with long and historical roots and with socialism as their core.” He also stated that “There is no new China without the Communist Party. This is the truth the Chinese people have realized while advancing under its guidance for many years,” as quoted by Yonhap.

Kim called the recent Pyongyang summit a “historic occasion of deepening the comradely friendship and trust between us,” as reported by Al Jazeera and Yonhap. He added, according to Yonhap, that the two leaders reconfirmed their “unshakable will” to promote socialist construction and traditional friendly relations.

Xi’s Reply

Yonhap reported that Xi Jinping replied to Kim’s message, vowing to ensure the “long-term and stable” development of China’s ties with North Korea. The reply was sent, according to KCNA as cited by Yonhap, in response to Kim’s July 1 message. Xi expressed “sincere” thanks and noted that the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Chinese Communist Party are “Marxist ruling parties,” according to the wire service.

During their summit in Pyongyang on June 8-9, Xi’s first visit to North Korea in nearly seven years, the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation and strengthen high-level communication, as reported by Yonhap.

Additional Context

Al Jazeera added that North Korea’s foreign trade with China accounts for nearly 98 percent of its total foreign trade, and that North Korean troops are fighting in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Yonhap reported that North Korea and China are set to mark the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on July 11.

Al Jazeera also noted that the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang marked the anniversary with a banquet, attended by senior North Korean officials, and that Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun expressed Beijing’s desire to deepen “strategic communication” with North Korea.