North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed hope to consolidate the country's "special" relations with China in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, the North's state media said Monday.
On Sunday, Kim met with Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, who was in Pyongyang to attend the North's military parade to celebrate its 70th founding anniversary.
Kim expressed hope to "further solidify and deepen the special and firm relations between North Korea and China" through stepped-up high-level exchanges and close communications, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Li was quoted as saying that his country's relations with the North are getting stronger based on a "special relationship" between the leaders of the two countries. He added that China remains firm in its efforts to move the ties forward "in a sustainable and stable matter regardless of international situations."
During the meeting, Li delivered Xi's personal letter to Kim, the KCNA said, without providing details on the content.
Chinese media earlier reported that Xi said in the letter that the two countries have opened a "new chapter" in their bilateral ties by holding three summit meetings this year and emphasized that China remains unchanged in its push to further consolidate China-North Korean relations. (Yonhap)