Beijing and Pyongyang said on Tuesday that China’s third-highest official, Zhao Leji, would visit North Korea this week as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Zhao Ziyang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to pay an official goodwill visit to China from April 11 to 13. .

Beijing is North Korea’s most important ally and economic donor, with ties forged during the bloodshed of the Korean War in the 1950s.

Zhao is China’s third-highest-ranking official, behind President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang.

Mao Zedong said he would lead a delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the “China-North Korea Friendship Year”, which marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.

Mao Zedong said: “China and North Korea are good neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Our two parties and two countries have always maintained a tradition of friendly exchanges.”

With the joint efforts of both parties, this visit will definitely be a complete success and promote the further deepening and development of China-North Korea relations.

North Korea’s state news agency also reported that Zhao Ziyang will pay an “official goodwill visit” at the invitation of Pyongyang’s ruling party.