How has North Korea-China cooperation been reflected in cross-border infrastructure?

The two countries opened the Amnok River Bridge, also called the New Yalu River Bridge, last week. It connects North Korea’s border city of Sinuiju with Dandong in China, and its opening was described as a sign of expanding exchanges and cooperation.

Xi reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties with N. Korea in reply to Kim Jong-un's letter

Q: What did Xi Jinping pledge to do in his reply to Kim Jong-un?

Xi said China was ready to work with North Korea to carry forward their traditional friendship, consolidate mutual political trust, expand practical cooperation, and maintain close communication and coordination. He said these efforts would promote the well-being of both peoples and contribute to regional and global peace and development.

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Summary

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening ties with North Korea in a reply to Kim Jong-un sent on Tuesday. Xi said the countries’ longstanding friendship and shared interests would guide efforts to expand cooperation and maintain close communication. He also cited understandings reached during his state visit to North Korea in June. The exchange follows renewed efforts to restore ties and the opening last week of a bridge linking Sinuiju and Dandong.

Key Facts

Kim’s Oct. 1 congratulatory message marked the 77th anniversary of China’s founding and pledged to develop the countries’ traditional friendship and safeguard shared interests.
Xi said the two countries are geographically connected and that their friendship and shared destiny have long defined bilateral relations.
Xi said the two leaders reached important common understandings in June on deepening bilateral ties and strengthening strategic guidance.
Relations faced strains in 2024 amid North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia, before signs of renewed engagement followed Kim’s attendance at China’s Victory Day military parade in 2025 and Xi’s visit to North Korea this year.
The Amnok River Bridge, also known as the New Yalu River Bridge, links Sinuiju with China’s Dandong.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 22, 2026 9:47 am KST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands ahead of their summit in Pyongyang, June 8. Courtesy of China's foreign ministry

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to strengthening ties with North Korea, saying the two countries have long supported each other across generations, the North's state media reported Thursday.

Xi made the remarks in a reply sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, responding to Kim's Oct. 1 congratulatory message marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of China, in which Kim pledged to further develop their traditional friendship and safeguard shared interests.

Xi said the two countries are geographically connected and that their friendship and shared destiny have long been defining features of bilateral relations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Xi also highlighted the outcome of his state visit to North Korea in June, saying the two leaders reached important common understandings on deepening bilateral ties and further strengthening strategic guidance for their development.

"China is ready to work with North Korea to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two nations, consolidate mutual political trust, expand practical cooperation and maintain close communication and coordination," Xi said, according to the Korean-language dispatch by the KCNA, which did not carry an English version of the report.

The Chinese president added that such efforts would "promote the well-being of the two peoples and contribute to peace and development in the region and the world."

Relations between Pyongyang and Beijing faced strains in 2024 amid North Korea's deepening ties with Russia. But the two sides have moved to restore their longstanding ties following Kim's attendance at China's Victory Day military parade in 2025 and Xi's visit to North Korea this year.

Exchanges and cooperation have also shown signs of expanding. Last week, the two countries opened the Amnok River Bridge, also known as the New Yalu River Bridge, linking the North's border city of Sinuiju with China's Dandong.

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