Xi, Putin pledge closer 'strategic' ties with N. Korea in founding anniv. messages

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SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sent congratulatory letters to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un marking the North's national founding anniversary, vowing to strengthen "strategic" relations with Pyongyang, North Korea's state media said Wednesday.

The letters arrived as North Korea observed the 78th anniversary of its national founding on Sept. 9, 1948, by the current leader's late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Xi noted that Kim has achieved "a series of development successes" in recent years by focusing on "economic and social construction."

"It is the consistent and steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-DPRK relations," he wrote. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Referring to his visit to Pyongyang in June, Xi said the occasion opened up "a new chapter" in the development of the bilateral ties, vowing to work with Kim to accelerate the development of each side's party and state affairs.

Putin also noted North Korea "has made remarkable successes in the socio-economic fields and extremely strengthened its position in the world arena," according to the KCNA.

"The relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have been established always on the basis of the principle of friendship, good neighborliness and mutual assistance," he wrote in his letter sent a day earlier.

He vowed to "further consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership" with North Korea, which he said fully "conforms to the interests" of both countries, and "will contribute to ensuring regional security and establishing a new, more just and multi-polarized world order."

The KCNA said Kim has received congratulatory messages from the leaders of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Sweden, Belarus, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Singapore and Equatorial Guinea.

This composite photo, provided by Xinhua, Yonhap and TASS, respectively, shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END)

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Xi, Putin pledge closer 'strategic' ties with N. Korea in founding anniv. messages

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月9日（韩联社）——朝鲜官方媒体周三表示，中国国家主席习近平和俄罗斯总统普京已致信朝鲜领导人金正恩，祝贺朝鲜建国周年，并誓言加强与平壤的“战略”关系。

据朝中社报道，这些信件抵达朝鲜之际，正值朝鲜纪念其建国78周年，建国日期为1948年9月9日，由现任领导人已故的祖父金日成创立。

习近平指出，金正恩近年来通过重点发展“经济和社会建设”，取得了“一系列发展成就”。

他写道：“维护、巩固和发展中朝关系是中国党和政府一贯坚持的坚定政策。”朝鲜民主主义人民共和国是朝鲜的正式国名。

习近平在谈到他6月份访问平壤时表示，此次访问开启了双边关系发展的“新篇章”，并誓言愿与金正恩一道加快双方党政发展。

据朝中社报道，普京还指出，朝鲜“在社会经济领域取得了显著成就，并在世界舞台上极大地加强了其地位”。

他在前一天发出的信中写道：“莫斯科和平壤之间的关系始终建立在友好、睦邻友好和互助的原则之上。”

他誓言要“进一步巩固与朝鲜的全面战略伙伴关系”，并表示这完全“符合”两国的利益，“将有助于确保地区安全，建立一个更加公正和多极化的新世界秩序”。

朝中社称，金正恩收到了来自越南、老挝、柬埔寨、蒙古、瑞典、白俄罗斯、瑞士、津巴布韦、新加坡和赤道几内亚领导人的贺电。

这张由新华社、韩联社和塔斯社分别提供的合成照片显示，中国国家主席习近平（左）、朝鲜领导人金正恩（中）和俄罗斯总统普京。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

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