Kim Jong-il’s China visit points to peace

The leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-il paid a successful visit to China from May 20 to 26. The attention-grabbing event marks the further consolidation of relations between the two neighbors. It also sends a strong signal to the outside world that the two will make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

This is Kim’s third visit to China in a year, a clear indication that China and the DPRK maintain frequent high-level contacts. During Kim’s visit, President Hu Jintao and other state leadership held talks on issues of mutual concern ranging from bilateral ties to the situation on the peninsula.

The two leaders vowed to hand down their traditional friendship from generation to generation and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

Beijing supports Pyongyang’s efforts to improve people’s livelihoods and promote economic and social development and is willing to share experiences with Pyongyang on many facets of nation building and development.

The DPRK leader, for his part, commended China’s reform and opening-up policy and its path of scientific development. During his visit this time, he saw the progress in China’s economic, social, technological and cultural development.

Developing stable and growing China-DPRK ties is a win-win strategy for both countries and contributes to regional peace and stability.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has undergone drastic changes since last year with tension and hostility escalating to their highest point in years after the exchange of artillery fire between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK on Nov. 23.

The subsequent joint military exercises conducted by the ROK, the United States and Japan only escalated the tension, bringing the two Koreas to the brink of war. China has insisted sabre-rattling will neither ease tensions nor advance the denuclearization process on the peninsula.

Beijing has made relentless efforts to build up the momentum for peaceful solutions through diplomatic consultations and mediation with the parties concerned.

China’s stance that the six-party talks should be revived at an early date has won wide support from the international community.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks include China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Japan and Russia. The talks, the only platform for discussing security matters on the peninsula in East Asia, have been suspended since December 2008.

China has seen positive signals on the peninsula recently and proposes inter-Korean dialogue before restarting talks within the six-party framework.

During his visit, the DPRK leader reaffirmed his support for denuclearization on the peninsula, an early resumption of the six-party talks and improving inter-Korean relations.

To build up the momentum for peace, stability and development on the peninsula, the parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, show flexibility, remove obstacles and continuously strive to improve relations.

(China Daily, May 28)