Beijing (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry announced that Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, and Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, will have an in-depth discussion on their bilateral relationship and any issues of mutual interest.
Xi and Kim’s meeting follows a Wednesday military parade in Beijing attended by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They stood with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a large military parade, the first time that all three leaders had been together since the early Cold War days.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that Xi and Kim’s discussions would be important, but he didn’t say when they would meet.
“China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and enhance exchanges and cooperation with the DPRK, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and advance the respective socialist causes and the traditional friendly cooperative relations between China and the DPRK,”
Guo told reporters at a regular briefing.
Kim’s trip to Beijing marked his first opportunity to meet both Putin and Xi simultaneously, along with engaging with over twenty other national leaders at the events.
What talks did Kim and Putin hold after the parade?
Kim and Putin met on Wednesday after the parade. They took a car together to a state guesthouse, where they had private talks. Both were seen walking and talking to Xi during the larger event that China was using for its own show of strength.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his full support for Vladimir Putin, vowing to “do everything I can to assist” Moscow. In turn, the Russian president appreciated Pyongyang’s decision to send troops to fight against Ukraine.
When did Kim and Xi last meet before this visit?
The last meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place in 2019. Specifically, Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang for an official state visit on June 20–21, 2019. It was the first official visit by a Chinese leader to North Korea in 14 years and Xi’s first visit since 2008.
Prior to that, Kim and Xi had multiple meetings in 2018 and early 2019, including secretive visits by Kim to China in 2018 and a meeting in Beijing in January 2019.
