On the morning of July 11, 2026, Li Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, held talks with Pak Thae Song, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Premier of the Cabinet, who was in China for an official visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Li Qiang said that China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors sharing weal and woe and supporting each other. At the beginning of last month, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the DPRK and reached a series of important consensus with General Secretary Kim Jong Un on deepening China-DPRK relations, providing joint strategic guidance. Maintaining, consolidating and developing China-DPRK relations has always been the unswerving policy of the CPC and the Chinese government. China is willing to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, continue to uphold the spirit of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, maintain close high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, better benefit the two peoples, and make positive contributions to the peace and development of the region and the world at large.
Li Qiang pointed out that this year is the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and also the starting year for the DPRK to implement the decisions and arrangements of the 9th Congress of the WPK. China is willing to align development strategies with the DPRK, steadily expand economic and trade exchanges, promote connectivity, deepen cooperation in people's livelihood areas such as medical and health care and education, and enhance the well-being of the two peoples. The two sides should carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and further tighten the bond of people-to-people connectivity. The current international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. As socialist countries, China and the DPRK should strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation, and work together to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice.
Pak Thae Song said that under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC, China's comprehensive national strength has been unprecedentedly enhanced, its international influence has been increasingly strengthened, and new achievements have been made in the development of Chinese modernization. The DPRK warmly congratulates China on these achievements. The historic meeting between General Secretary Kim Jong Un and General Secretary Xi Jinping in Pyongyang not long ago fully demonstrated the unbreakable unity and friendship between the two parties and two countries, and provided strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations. The DPRK firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, and is willing to follow the important consensus of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, take the grand celebration of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as an opportunity, maintain close high-level exchanges and strategic communication, expand exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade, science and technology, people-to-people and cultural fields, strengthen international coordination, jointly promote the development of the socialist cause, and write a new chapter in DPRK-China relations.
Before the talks, Li Qiang held a welcome ceremony for Pak Thae Song in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wu Zhenglong participated in the above activities.
