China's Xi says he reached important consensus with Kim in North Korea visit, KCNA reports

Seoul: Chinese President Xi Jinping said he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reached an "important consensus" and agreed to safeguard regional and global peace, in a message of thanks following his visit to Pyongyang, North Korean state media KCNA said ‌on Wednesday.

In ⁠the ⁠message carried in full by KCNA, Xi said the two sides ​had "exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern and reached a ​series of important joint consensus," reflecting their determination to further deepen ties.

Also read: China's Xi vows unwavering support for North Korea's Kim in rare Pyongyang visit


Looking ahead, Xi said he was willing ​to work with Kim "based on fundamental ⁠and long-term ‌interests" to "steadily safeguard, consolidate and develop" bilateral ​ties and ​contribute more to regional and global peace ⁠and development.

He also said the visit had ​been "successfully concluded" and that relations had entered "a ​new historical stage," while expressing hope to meet Kim again.

Xi visited Pyongyang from Monday to Tuesday in his first trip to North Korea in seven years. Xi said the visit had established a deeper, more comprehensive ‌understanding yielding a clearer path for development of ties, China's official Xinhua news agency said.

Also read: China's Xi hails 'new start' in North Korea ties ahead of summit

The ​two leaders ​agreed to expand ⁠cooperation across politics, the economy and culture, while pledging closer strategic communication between their governments, according to both countries' state ​media.

Other KCNA reports on Wednesday said the two leaders paid tribute at Pyongyang's Sino-Korean Friendship Tower that commemorates Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War and toured a political training school for party cadres.