Chinese president meets N Korean delegation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met a visiting delegation of North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

Ri Su-yong, head of the delegation, delivered a message from top North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Xi, Xinhua reported.

Kim, in the message, said North Korea hopes to work with China to strengthen and develop the bilateral traditional friendship, and maintain peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.

Ri briefed Xi on the seventh WPK congress, held in early May, during which Kim was elected chairman of the WPK.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, welcomed the delegation, saying the visit was evidence of the tradition of strategic communication between the two parties on major issues.

China highly values the friendly cooperative relations with North Korea, Xi stressed, adding the nation was willing to work with Pyongyang to maintain, consolidate and develop bilateral ties.

China's stance on the issue of the Korean peninsula is consistent and clear, Xi said, calling on relevant sides to stay calm, exercise restraint, and enhance communication and dialogue to safeguard regional peace and stability.

Ri is a member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice chairman of the committee and director of the party's International Department.

--IANS

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