The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and China have a tradition of friendship that has kept growing stronger over time and has become even more important in recent years. It has been noted by the President of China Xi Jinping that he has kept close communications with the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un in recent year, and guided bilateral ties to steadily move forward.

The two countries have a basis of cooperation and friendship traced back to the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

Xi Jinping has highlighted that leaders of the older generation of China and North Korea made the far-sighted strategic decision to sign the treaty, which has laid the foundation for consolidating the friendship and alliance between the two nations.

Recently the Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the statement that China stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Li further stated that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have always regarded ties with the DPRK from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and that maintaining, consolidating and developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries is China’s policy.

China’s growing neighbourhood diplomacy has become an anchor in its foreign policy actions and goals. Despite global economic volatility and the disruption caused by US protectionist policies the Asia-Pacific has proved reasonably resilient. This has caused for many countries in the region to view China as a reliable partner on economic and broader political issues amid turbulent geopolitical situations.