Pyongyang: China and Russia, traditionally aligned with North Korea, have sent congratulatory letters to the North in recognition of its opening of the first congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in five years, state media reported Friday. Dmitry Medvedev, chief of the ruling United Russia party, sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, which was followed the next day by a letter from the central committee of China's Communist Party, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea commenced the party congress on Thursday. This congress, the highest decision-making organ in the country and the first since 2021, aims to set major policy goals on the economy, defense, and other key areas. In his letter, Medvedev, a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighted the two countries' traditional friendship and strategic partnership, which he stated helps them defy "external pressure" and ensure "peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region."
Medvedev emphasized the role of the ruling parties of the two countries in advancing bilateral relations, expressing his expectation to "further advance trustworthy discussions between the two parties on a wide scale, including matters of mutual interest." Meanwhile, the Chinese ruling party noted that the two countries have entered a "new historic era" under the "strategic guidance of their national leaders," highlighting its "high-level focus" on relations with the WPK.
The Chinese party expressed its willingness to jointly guide the development of China-North Korea relations by strengthening communications and deepening exchanges on experiences in state management. They also aimed to promote regional peace and stability.