Kim Jong Un has pledged to “steadily develop” relations with China, describing last month’s summit with President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang as a “historic occasion” that deepened trust and comradely friendship. The message, sent to mark the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on 1 July, was carried by North Korean state media. It follows Xi’s first visit to the North Korean capital since 2019, a trip that both sides used to outline what Chinese state media called a “far-reaching blueprint” for bilateral ties.

According to North Korean state media, Kim said it was his party and government’s “steadfast stand” to advance relations rooted in socialism, and he expressed readiness to work with Xi to develop “friendly and cooperative relations” as “the common wealth of the peoples of the two countries.” Chinese state media reported that during the June summit the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military affairs, and to elevate their traditional friendship into “the most powerful and strategic relations.” Data from South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance shows that China accounted for nearly 98 per cent of North Korea’s foreign trade in 2024, a level that gives Beijing significant economic leverage.

The reaffirmation of ties comes as Pyongyang has simultaneously deepened military cooperation with Russia, including the supply of troops and weapons for the war in Ukraine. Chinese state media reported that the two sides agreed to strengthen military coordination, a development that has drawn attention in Western capitals. From Beijing’s perspective, according to regional diplomats, a stable and cooperative Pyongyang serves as a buffer against US-allied military presence on the peninsula and helps manage the nuclear issue on terms that avoid sudden instability. Chinese officials have publicly called for “objectivity” regarding sanctions and for easing monitoring mechanisms, while North Korea has never renounced its nuclear status.

Domestically, the CPC anniversary was marked by a ceremony in Beijing at which Xi awarded the party’s highest honour, the July 1 Medal, to exemplary members and delivered a speech emphasising the party’s central role in national development. Analysts in China view the celebration, held a year before the next Party Congress that is expected to select a new leadership for a five-year term, as an opportunity to project continuity and strength. The resumption of regular passenger rail services between China and North Korea, suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the simplification of visa procedures are practical steps that both sides have taken to normalise people-to-people exchanges.

The joint declaration from the June summit committed the two countries to expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, agriculture, science and technology, health, defence, and culture, as well as party-to-party contacts and exchanges on governance experience. No date has been announced for follow-up meetings, but both governments have stated their intention to maintain regular high-level dialogue through party, government, and military channels. The implementation of the “far-reaching blueprint” is expected to be monitored closely by neighbouring states and by Washington, where officials have long viewed the China–North Korea relationship as a factor in regional security dynamics.