Beijing:Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Kim Song-nam, a senior North Korean official, in Beijing to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wang Yi reiterated China's commitment to solidifying bilateral ties with North Korea during the meeting with Kim Song-nam, who is a member of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea and a party secretary. The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to boost cooperation between China and North Korea after relations appeared to have weakened due to increased alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang over the situation in Ukraine.
During the discussions, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during Xi's visit to Pyongyang in June. The Chinese foreign minister expressed hope that the relationship between the two nations would develop "deeply, substantially and positively" for mutual benefit.
Kim Song-nam described Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea as a "new milestone" that meets the "demands of the new era" for the bilateral relationship. He also highlighted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong as reaffirming the "strategic nature of the blood-cemented friendship."
The meeting took place amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump might attempt to engage in summit discussions with the North Korean leader during his planned visit to Asia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November 18-19.