Xi Jinping expresses hope China can open ‘new chapter’ in relations with North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after he cemented his leadership at the latest congress of the country’s ruling party.Xi said Kim’s reselection as general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Monday reflected the “high trust and wholehearted support” of the country’s “party, government and people”, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.Xi said he was ready to work with Kim to “open a new chapter in China-DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] friendship, serve the cause of socialist development in both countries, and enhance the well-being and friendship of our peoples”.Xi also said he hoped that North Korea’s “party and people” would take the opportunity to “drive the socialist cause in DPRK to constantly break new ground”.The Chinese leader added that China and North Korea were “socialist [and] friendly neighbours” and said “safeguarding, consolidating and developing China-DPRK relations remains an unwavering policy” of Beijing.Kim succeeded his father Kim Jong-il as the supreme leader upon his death in December 2011.In 2016, he revived the custom of holding a party congress every five years – after a 36-year pause.