China supports and congratulates the successful completion of the inter-Korean summit last month, which has brought beneficial opportunities for a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.
He made the remarks when meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), during his two-day visit to the country.
Kim crossed the inter-Korean border April 27 and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom.
On the border village, the leaders pledged to end the Korean War and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the Panmunjom Declaration.
China supports an end to the state of war on the Peninsula, and backs the DPRK’s decision to shift its strategic pivot to economic development and the resolution of the DPRK’s legitimate security concerns during the denuclearization process, Wang said.
China is willing to maintain communication with the DPRK over the issue and advance coordination between the two countries, he added.
For his part, Kim spoke highly of China’s efforts and contributions to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and said that the DPRK is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China.
Achieving the denuclearization of the Peninsula is the firm position of the DPRK side, Kim said.
On Wednesday, Wang also had talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyonyang.
Wang said that the traditional China-DPRK friendship is the shared and precious treasure of the two countries, adding that to continuously develop and pass on this friendship to future generations is a strategic choice of both countries.
He said that China is ready to work with the DPRK to implement in substantial ways the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, by strengthening communication and coordination between their political and diplomatic organs, pushing forward pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, cultivating people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and instilling new vigor into China-DPRK relations in the new era.
China also backs the settlement of the DPRK’s security concerns, and gives its full support for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, he said.
Wang added that China is willing to strengthen communication with the DPRK and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue.
(Xinhua)