Xi, Kim hold talks in Beijing

Beijing [China], June 20 (ANI): Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing to discuss the current development of China-DPRK relations and the situation in the Korean Peninsula in nuance.

Both Xi and Kim on Tuesday agreed to safeguard and strengthen China-DPRK relations, and jointly push forward the momentum of peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula to establish a world and regional peace, stability, prosperity, and development, Xinhua reported.

The Chinese President said he was pleased to see the success of the historic meeting held between Kim and US President Donald Trump on June 12 in Singapore.

"China speaks highly of the summit," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

"By visiting China, Kim showed how important it is for him to boost the strategic communication between two countries," Xi added.

Xi said this is the third time that the two leaders met, opening a new chapter in the development of China-DPRK relations.

They earlier met in Chinese port city of Dalian for a summit on May 8. Prior to his summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 and with U.S. President Donald Trump on June 12, Kim made his first foreign trip to China in March to meet Xi in Beijing.

Speaking about the relations between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Xi said, no matter how the international situations change, CPC's ties with DPRK will remain unchanged.

"No matter how the international and regional situations change, the firm stance of CPC and the Chinese government on consolidating and developing the relations with the DPRK remains unchanged, the Chinese people's friendship with the DPRK people remains unchanged, and China's support for the socialist DPRK remains unchanged," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

Kim, in return, said he appreciates China's sincere friendship and valuable support.

Kim further said, he will guide all Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) members and the DPRK people to earnestly implement the important consensus, jointly reached by him and Xi to take the unbreakable DPRK-China relations to a new level.

Kim reached China on Tuesday on a two-day visit.

Xi held a welcome ceremony for Kim at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People, before initiating the talks.

After the talks, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan watched an art performance with Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI