North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song arrived in China on Friday for a three-day visit commemorating the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. This treaty remains Beijing's only formal defence pact.
Pak leads a party and government delegation during this visit, which signals improving relations between the two traditional allies.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized that "China and North Korea are traditional friendly neighbouring countries," adding that "upholding, consolidating and developing China-North Korea relations has always been a steadfast strategic policy of the Communist Party and government."
Mao also stated that Beijing is prepared to collaborate with Pyongyang to "strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and continuously promote the development of the traditional friendship and cooperative relationship between China and North Korea."
The visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to North Korea last month, his first abroad this year and first visit to North Korea in seven years, which both sides described as establishing a "critical consensus" for a new era of bilateral cooperation.
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