China-DPRK friendship steadfast in a turbulent world

ByChen Xiangyang

The Yalu River Broken Bridge (front) and the China-DPRK Friendship Bridge are seen from Dandong, Liaoning province, in February. [Photo/China Daily]

In international politics, some relationships are fleeting because they are driven by temporary interests. Others endure because they are rooted in shared history, strategic necessity and long-term national interests. The relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea belongs to the second category.

In today's rapidly shifting global landscape, the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries is a vital anchor of regional stability. Formally established on Oct 6, 1949, this enduring bond was founded on shared revolutionary ideals. Over the decades, successive generations of leaders have nurtured this relationship, ensuring that it continually adapts to serve the fundamental interests of both nations.

In recent years, exchanges between President Xi Jinping and DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un have provided renewed strategic guidance for bilateral relations. Both sides have consistently stressed that regardless of changes in the international landscape, maintaining, consolidating and developing China-DPRK relations remains a firm commitment.

At the core of this revitalized relationship is a deep reservoir of strategic mutual trust, which has become particularly vital as both nations navigate critical phases in their respective domestic development.

China has embarked on a decisive phase of its modernization journey, guided by the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which aims to drive its transition toward high-quality development. Simultaneously, the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) rolled out its own Five-Year Plan (2026-30) in February to steer the country into a phase of comprehensive socialist construction through a dual strategic focus on defense building and economic development.

This high-level engagement serves two crucial functions. First, it ensures that communication channels remain uninterrupted. When volatility ripples through the Korean Peninsula, direct and reliable baseline channels lower the risk of strategic miscalculation. Second, it facilitates deep institutional learning.

As socialist states led by Communist parties, exchanging practical insights on grassroots governance, livelihood security and risk mitigation transforms a historical friendship into tangible, domestic governance assets.

This dimension is particularly significant at a time when the international environment is becoming more volatile.

The world is witnessing rising geopolitical conflicts, growing protectionism, intensified major-power competition and mounting pressure on the global order.

Against this backdrop, safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests has become a more pressing task for many countries. For China and the DPRK, closer coordination in regional and international affairs can contribute to a more stable strategic environment.

Moreover, the DPRK's recent initiatives, such as inviting Chinese diplomats to visit the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in February, underscore a mutual desire to deepen tourism and personnel exchanges, directly elevating the living standards of both populations.

Ultimately, the relationship rests on a bedrock of profound public goodwill and cultural proximity. Rooted in the ethos that "good neighbors wish each other well", the bond between the two societies remains uniquely resilient. This emotional connection has been continually nurtured by the highest echelons of leadership.

President Xi's paying homage to the China-DPRK Friendship Tower in Pyongyang during the visit that just concluded, alongside DPRK leader Kim's frequent visits to the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers in Hoechang County, symbolizes a shared history written in solidarity.

By continually expanding exchanges across education, sports, healthcare, media, and youth cohorts, both countries are ensuring that this historical legacy is passed down to future generations.

As a classic Chinese poem aptly observes,"Tide at full, two shores stretch vast and wide; Wind in fair, one sail hangs full with pride." China and the DPRK are bound as good comrades and steadfast neighbors.

No matter how the winds of international politics shift, the resolve to protect, consolidate, and advance this relationship will remain unshakable.

Buttressed by the strategic vision of their top leadership, the towering tree of China-DPRK friendship will continue to flourish, remaining evergreen for generations to come.

The author is the deputy director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.