N. Korea, China vow new era of ties in Kim-Xi summit: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands ahead of their summit in Pyongyang, Monday, in this photo provided by China's foreign ministry. Yonhap

North Korea and China reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other's interests and pledged to usher in a new era in bilateral relations, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks the previous day, agreeing to put the two nations' friendly relations "on a more solid basis" and expand cooperation in politics, economy, culture and other fields.

The two also agreed to strengthen cooperation and defend each other's sovereignty and security, it noted.

Kim said strengthening ties with China was his country's "most important top-priority strategic work" and one he was committed to seeing through.

Pyongyang will do its "utmost to strengthen the bilateral relations into a model of the relationship between socialist states and into an invariably special, genuine and solid strategic relationship," he said, calling it "our immutable choice and will."

Xi's first trip to Pyongyang in seven years came as both nations sought to restore their traditional ties that appeared to remain cooled amid North Korea's close alignment with Russia.

Kim noted Xi's choice of Pyongyang as his first overseas destination of the year underscored how much Beijing valued the relationship.

"Your visit to Pyongyang as the first foreign trip for this year is an expression of your top priority to the DPRK-China friendship, as well as the most encouraging support to the Korean people," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

He also highlighted the steady expansion of exchanges and cooperation since the two leaders last met in Beijing in September.

Xi reaffirmed China's support for North Korea and its resolve to "defend the common interests of both sides and a good strategic environment no matter how the international situation may change."

The two sides agreed to further strengthen communication through high-level visits, expand exchanges and cooperation across political, economic, cultural fields and jointly defend each other's sovereignty and security," according to the report.

The Pyongyang meeting was unfolding "at a new strategic level," the KCNA said, noting the visit also fell in "the significant year marking the 65th anniversary of the conclusion of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance."

Notably absent was any mention of nuclear issues or the broader situation on the Korean Peninsula. Neither the KCNA nor China's Xinhua News Agency has made any reference to either matter. When Xi last visited Pyongyang in 2019, he mentioned China would work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese state media reported Monday that Xi called for stronger cooperation with the North across diplomacy, law enforcement and military.

Xi is expected to pay tribute to the Friendship Tower, a monument honoring Chinese soldiers who fought alongside North Korean forces during the 1950-1953 Korean War and a symbol of the alliance between the two, before departing for Beijing later in the day.