Summary
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Pak Thae-song, premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of July 10, 2026. Xi said China and the DPRK should jointly commemorate the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and accelerate the implementation of consensus with General Secretary Kim Jong Un. Pak conveyed greetings from Kim, saying the DPRK firmly supports China's core interests on issues including Taiwan and will develop bilateral ties into the strongest strategic relationship.
Wang Yi attended the meeting.
Commentary
Xi Jinping's meeting with DPRK Premier Pak Thae-song, which emphasised marking the 65th anniversary of the bilateral treaty and accelerating top-level consensus implementation, serves as a stabilising factor for the geopolitical landscape in Northeast Asia. For New Zealand small and medium enterprises, China's neighbourhood diplomacy directly affects supply chain security and market confidence. Dairy exporters such as Fonterra derive over 25 percent of their revenue from Greater China; any easing of regional tensions benefits the export environment.
However, closer Beijing-Pyongyang ties could also intensify US-China strategic competition, indirectly affecting economies like New Zealand that rely on open trade. Should North Korea attempt economic reforms in future, new export opportunities might emerge, but for now, attention should focus on tariff and non-tariff barrier changes under the RCEP framework.
Keywords: Xi Jinping, Pak Thae-song, DPRK, China-DPRK relations, Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, 65th anniversary, Kim Jong Un, Great Hall of the People
Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand
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