Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to promote a “long-term, sound and stable” relationship with North Korea, state news agency Xinhua said yesterday, as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also sent a message to Xi saying their countries’ “invincible friendship will be immortal on the road of accomplishing the cause of socialism,” said Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA yesterday.

North Korea was among the first countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China after it was founded in 1949.

Xi said the relationship between the Asian neighbours had played an “important and positive role in maintaining regional peace and stability,” said Xinhua.

Since March 2018, Xi and Kim have met five times.

Xi was the first Chinese leader to visit the reclusive North in 14 years when he made a highly symbolic trip to the nuclear-armed state in June.