Xi Jinping reaffirms relationship with North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly doubled down on his country’s relationship with North Korea, saying he attached “great importance” to the association between the 2 nations.

Xi was cited on Saturday by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency as saying, “The world, the times, and history are now changing in an unprecedented way,” Bloombergreported. The Chinese president added, “Under the new situation, I am ready, together with you, to make a fresh and positive contribution to provide the peoples of our two countries with greater well-being.”

Xi’s reported remarks come amidst heightened tensions between the 2 countries and the rest of the world. North Korea has regularly launched a series of missile tests in recent weeks, together with some that had been detected by Japan close to the Korean Peninsula. Another test from the hermit state reportedly saw the usage of an intercontinental ballistic missile that had the potential to reach the U.S. mainland.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has maintained a close alliance with Xi through the years, and sent him a message following his re-election as China’s leader saying he hoped to strengthen their bond. The pair previously met in a collection of secret meetings in 2018 and 2019 to discuss numerous matters.

Whereas North Korea remains a big threat, China has additionally seen rising competition with Western powers lately, notably the USA. Chinese officials informed the South China Morning Postthat competition between China and the U.S. was “inevitable” as a result of tech races between the countries.