North Korean Premier's Beijing Visit Marks 65th Anniversary of Friendship Treaty
North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song concluded a three-day official visit to China on July 12, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to mark the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two nations. The treaty, signed on July 11, 1961, by then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, remains in force and includes a mutual defence clause committing either side to assist the other if attacked.
According to China's Central Television, as quoted by TASS, President Xi told Pak that amid the current complex and volatile international situation, China and North Korea must "maintain strategic resilience, strengthen strategic confidence, and accelerate the implementation of the consensus reached between me and Kim Jong Un." Xi also emphasized that bilateral interstate and inter-party relations should "keep abreast with the times and always develop in a direction that contributes to strengthening the socialist cause and modernization for each side."
During the meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Pak and Li discussed expanding exchanges and cooperation across all spheres, in line with an agreement reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Xi during their summit in Pyongyang last month, as reported by Yonhap citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Pak stated that relations between Pyongyang and Beijing have "reached a new high level" and vowed to strengthen their friendship and solidarity. Li responded that it was the "steadfast" policy of the Chinese government to defend and consolidate relations with Pyongyang, describing the relationship as one of "neighbors sharing destiny."
After returning home on July 13, Pak sent a thank-you message to Li, expressing North Korea's willingness to "comprehensively expand and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations as required by the new era," according to KCNA via Yonhap. The delegation also toured the Communist Party of China History Exhibition Hall, the Beijing Rail Transit Command Center, and a green energy demonstration site in Tianjin during the visit.
The treaty, which has survived the Cold War, China's economic opening, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and decades of tension over North Korea's nuclear programme, is China's only formal military alliance, according to Al Jazeera. The broadcaster noted that China has transformed into the world's second-largest economy over the past 65 years, while North Korea remains isolated and heavily sanctioned. Chinese leaders often describe the relationship as close "as lips and teeth," but Al Jazeera suggested the alliance is underscored above all by strategic necessity.
In a briefing ahead of the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed that maintaining, strengthening, and developing relations with North Korea remains a consistent strategic course of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, as reported by TASS. She confirmed that the two sides had agreed to jointly hold commemorative events for the treaty's anniversary.