Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on all parties to disputes on the Korean Peninsula to exercise restraint and calm during a meeting with a North Korean delegation as the two close allies seeks to repair strained ties over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.
Xi met the visiting delegation of North Korea's ruling the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and expounded China's stance on the issue of the Korean Peninsula, China's stand on the Korean Peninsula is consistent and clear, Xi said and called on relevant sides to stay calm, exercise restraint, and enhance communication and dialogue to safeguard regional peace and stability, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Ri Su Yong, head of the North Korean delegation, delivered a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Xi. In his message, Kim said that North Korea hopes to work with China to strengthen and develop the bilateral traditional friendship, and maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.
Ri also gave a briefing on the seventh WPK Congress, which was held in early May, during which Kim was elected chairman of the ruling party. China in the recent past distanced itself from North Korea's nuclear weapons programme which has triggered international sanctions on the reclusive nation.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, welcomed the delegation, saying the visit was evidence of the tradition of strategic communication between the two parties on major issues.
The visit also demonstrated that Chairman Kim and the WPK Central Committee attach importance to relations between the two parties and two countries, Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua. Xi wished the people of North Korea greater success in endeavours related to the economy, standard of living and socialism. China highly values the friendly cooperative relations with North Korea, Xi stressed, adding that Beijing is willing to work with Pyongyang to properly maintain, consolidate and develop bilateral ties.
