President Xi Jinping has just concluded his first state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In Xi's words, his visit was aimed at both solidifying the traditional friendship between the two neighbors and pushing forward political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is complex and subtle, and while progress has been made, it has been limited. Against this background, and in the year the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations, Xi's visit had a particular significance as it opened a new chapter for their friendship which was forged in the crucible of war.

Xi's visit is testimony to China's strong political will to consolidate the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK and demonstrates that it will continue to play its unique role as a stabilizer of the Korean Peninsula situation. This is particularly true when the tensions on the Korean Peninsula have shown new signs of easing in respect to denuclearization and reconciliation. The point is that a more consolidated bilateral relationship is in line with the fundamental and common interests of China and the DPRK.

Xi's visit also proves there is more deepened political trust between the two countries and their top leaders, considering this is the fifth meeting between Xi and the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-un in the past 15 months since Kim first visited Beijing in March 2018.

Xi's visit also had profound significance in respect to consolidating the channels of exchanges between the two countries, which involve the two ruling parties, the two governments, and the two peoples. Given the unique ties between China and the DPRK, interparty communication will continue to play a particularly important role in guiding the direction of the China-DPRK relationship, whereas more comprehensive and diversified intergovernmental and people-to-people communications will not only create a better environment for economic development and cooperation between the two countries but also further consolidate the foundation of their friendship - mutual understanding and support among the peoples of the two countries for the pursuit of peace and development.

However, we may read much more from Xi's statement and emphasis on a "political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue," a consensus repeated multiple times by both leaders during Xi's visit to Pyongyang. It is a political consensus, and it is also a joint assertion by the top leaders of China and the DPRK of the final resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue.

The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is in transition, but there is still much uncertainty. On the one hand, there are new signs of reconciliation between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, top leaders from the DPRK and the United States have met twice since 2018.

On the other hand, the long-standing political hostility and lack of mutual trust on the Korean Peninsula will hardly disappear in the short term, there are obvious strategic and policy-level divergences on the practical approach to realize a final resolution among the involved parties. For example, while China and the DPRK both agree on denuclearization through a phased and synchronous dual-track approach, the United States, a key player in the Korean Peninsula issue, has reiterated its "all-or-nothing "approach after recent diplomatic setbacks. It is in this regard that Xi's visit and particularly his emphasis on "political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue" indicates that settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue requires political resolution, wisdom and skills, and most importantly, political patience.

Hence, as the Korean Peninsula issue is the result of a multilayered accumulation of global and regional conflicts, problems and disputes that involve a number of parties, to accomplish its resolution at "one stroke" is completely unrealistic. A comprehensive solution to the Korean Peninsula issue involves the core interests of a number of countries. There is no direct connection to the political gains and losses of the US administration. This seems to be an implied message in Xi's repeatedly calling for "political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue".

Thus, it is interesting to note that in his response to Xi's words, Kim expressed the DPRK's willingness to maintain "patience", and hoped that the involved parties move in the same direction. This is probably not only a response to Xi's comments on resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, but also a very strong and clear message to his US counterpart in Washington.

The author is an associate professor at Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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