China and North Korea mark 75 years of diplomatic ties
China's top legislator and a senior North Korean official emphasised opening a "new chapter" of Beijing-Pyongyang relations, the North's state media said Saturday, as they met for one of the most high-level talks between the allies in years. Beijing's third highest-ranking official Zhao Leji - the NPC Standing Committee chairman - is on a goodwill visit to the North as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. China is North Korea's most important economic benefactor and diplomatic ally. Zhao and Choe Ryong-hae, who is the chairman of North Korea's Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, attended an opening ceremony for the "year of DPRK-China friendship" in Pyongyang on Friday, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said, using the acronym for the North's official name. "China is ready to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, promote traditional friendship, deepen strategic mutual trust and enhance exchanges and cooperation, so as to jointly write a new chapter of the China-DPRK friendship," Zhao said in a speech, according to Xinhua. North Korea's Choe said the two countries' relationship "has greeted a new heyday under the wise leadership" of their leaders, KCNA said. Choe and Zhao were seen sitting next to each other watching performances by what KCNA said were "prestigious art troupes" of the two nations at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, AFP footage showed. (AFP and Xinhua)