Xi and Kim Exchange Greetings on 65th Anniversary of Treaty

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged congratulatory messages on July 11, 2026, marking the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance — Beijing’s only formal mutual defense pact. The exchange, reported simultaneously by Xinhua News Agency and the Korean Central News Agency, reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two neighbors and came just weeks after Xi’s landmark state visit to Pyongyang in June.

Context: A Treaty Sealed in Blood

The treaty, signed on July 11, 1961, by North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il-sung and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, is the only formal defense commitment China has with any country. Its provisions include mutual military assistance if either party is attacked, cooperation in economic and cultural fields, and consultation on major international issues. Originally set for 20 years with automatic renewal, the pact has underpinned bilateral relations for more than six decades.

In his message, Xi noted that the treaty “laid an important political and legal foundation for consolidating the combat friendship sealed in blood between the two peoples,” adding that it has played a vital role in maintaining regional and world peace and stability.

Xi’s ‘Three No Changes’ Pledge

Xi used the occasion to reiterate what analysts have termed his “three no changes” — a firm commitment to the bilateral relationship regardless of global circumstances. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi stated that China’s “firm stance in attaching great importance to China-North Korea traditional friendship will not change,” its “firm support for Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un’s leadership of North Korea’s socialist cause will not change,” and its “firm resolve to safeguard the common interests and favorable strategic environment of both sides will not change.”

The Chinese president also referenced his June 8-9 state visit to Pyongyang — his first in seven years and his first overseas trip of 2026 — during which both sides reached what they called a “critical consensus” for a new era of bilateral cooperation.

Kim: Building a ‘Model of Strategic Relations’

Kim Jong Un, in his message carried by KCNA, characterized the bilateral relationship as “special” — special due to traditional friendship, the common socialist cause, and unwavering inheritance. He described the treaty as having laid “a solid legal foundation for the permanent development of the DPRK-China relations of militant friendship, unity and mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Kim expressed readiness to develop the China-North Korea friendship into “a model of the most powerful and strategic relations between socialist countries,” elevating the rhetorical framing of the partnership to new heights. He also noted that the relationship is “developing at a new strategic level” and contributing to the protection of sovereignty, security, and regional stability amid a “complicated international situation.”

Premier Pak’s Beijing Visit

The anniversary was further marked by the visit of North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song, who arrived in Beijing on July 10 for a three-day trip leading a party and government delegation. According to China News Service, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that China and North Korea had agreed to jointly hold grand commemorative activities for the 65th anniversary. Mao described the two countries as “traditional friendly neighboring countries” and said that upholding bilateral relations has always been a “steadfast strategic policy” of the Chinese Communist Party and government, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Geopolitical Implications

The exchange of messages carries significance beyond ceremonial diplomacy. Yonhap News Agency framed the development within the context of intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry, noting that Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo continue to reinforce trilateral security cooperation. The analysis highlighted China’s efforts to maintain influence with North Korea as Pyongyang simultaneously deepens ties with Moscow through military, diplomatic, and economic cooperation.

For Beijing, the treaty anniversary provides an opportunity to reaffirm its role as North Korea’s primary strategic partner amid competition with Russia for influence over Pyongyang. For North Korea, the exchange demonstrates that despite its growing ties with Russia, the China relationship remains foundational to its strategic posture.

What to Watch

Several questions remain as the anniversary events unfold. The specific nature of the joint commemorative activities — and whether they will include military displays or joint exercises — has yet to be announced. Analysts will also be watching for any new economic or infrastructure agreements between the two countries, and for how the deepening China-North Korea relationship affects the trilateral U.S.-South Korea-Japan security architecture in the Indo-Pacific.

As both leaders emphasized, the treaty’s role in ensuring regional stability remains as relevant today as it was in 1961 — even as the geopolitical landscape around the Korean Peninsula grows increasingly complex.