BEIJING -- A top ranking Chinese official reaffirmed ties with North Korea during a meeting Saturday with the country's leader Kim Jong Un in the capital Pyongyang, China's state media reported, in the highest-level talks between the allies in years.
The visit by Zhao Leji, who ranks third in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy and heads the ceremonial parliament, came as North Korea has test fired missiles to intimidate South Korea and its ally, the United States.
The Xinhua News Agency reported that Zhao told Kim at the meeting concluding his three-day visit that China, the North's most important source of economic aid and diplomatic support, looked forward to further developing ties, but made no mention of the political situation on the peninsula or the region.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency also confirmed the meeting today and said Kim held unspecified discussions with Zhao on "boosting the multi-faceted exchange and cooperation" and "other important issues of mutual concern." KCNA said the Chinese delegation left the country later on Saturday.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 75 years ago, China and North Korea have been "good neighbors and struggled together to attain a common destiny and level of development," Xinhua quoted Zhao as saying.
China fought on behalf of the reclusive Communist State against the U.S. and others during the 1950-1953 Korean War, and in recent years has helped prop up its weak economy, allegedly in violation of U.N. sanctions in response to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program that Beijing had endorsed.
Zhao met his North Korean counterpart Choe Ryong Hae on Thursday and discussed how to promote exchanges and cooperation in all areas, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported.
North Korea closed its borders during the height of the covid-19 pandemic amid reports of a major outbreak and food shortages. Zhao's visit to North Korea marked the first bilateral exchange involving a Chinese Politburo Standing Committee member since the pandemic started. Prior to the outbreak, Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping held two summits in 2019.
North Korea and China are expected to hold a number of exchanges this year to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. North Korea has sought to boost its cooperation with Beijing and Russia in the face of a standoff with the U.S. and South Korea over its missile launches and nuclear program.
Kim traveled to Russia in September for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S., South Korea and others accuse North Korea of supplying conventional weapons for Russia's war in Ukraine in return for advanced weapons technologies and other support.
China has refused to criticize the Russian invasion and accused the U.S. and NATO of provoking Moscow, but says it will not provide Moscow with direct military support.
Choe Ryong Hae, left, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, shakes hands with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as Zhao and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
An airplane carrying a Chinese delegation headed by Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress of China speaks during a welcome reception, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 11, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Choe Ryong Hae, front right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, shakes hands with Zhao Leji, center left, chairman of the National People's Congress of China, as Zhao and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)