中国ナンバー３、北朝鮮高官と会談　ＫＣＮＡ

【ソウルＡＦＰ＝時事】北朝鮮の国営朝鮮中央通信（ＫＣＮＡ）は１２日、中国共産党序列３位の趙楽際全国人民代表大会（全人代）常務委員長が前日、平壌を訪問し、最高人民会議の崔竜海（チェ・リョンヘ）常任委員長と会談したと伝えた。（写真は、北朝鮮・平壌で行われた歓迎晩さん会で言葉を交わす最高人民会議の崔竜海〈チェ・リョンヘ〉常任委員長〈右〉と中国の趙楽際・全人代常務委員長。朝鮮中央通信提供）
　国交樹立７５年を記念して訪朝している中国の趙氏は、習近平国家主席、李強首相に次ぐナンバー３。ここ数年では、両国間で最もハイレベルな会談の一つとなった。
　ＫＣＮＡによると、趙氏は崔氏との会談で「政治、経済、文化などあらゆる分野での交流と協力」について協議。「相互の関心事である地域的、国際的な問題について意見を交換した」という。
　韓国メディアは、北朝鮮の最高指導者、金正恩（キム・ジョンウン）朝鮮労働党委員長の中国訪問を計画することも目的の一つである可能性を指摘した。習氏と金氏が最後に会ったのは２０１９年で、新型コロナウイルスの世界的大流行が始まる前だ。
　中国国営の新華社通信は、趙氏と崔氏が「朝鮮半島情勢」についても話し合ったと伝えた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/04/12-16:51）

China's top legislator met with a senior North Korean official for talks on cooperation during a visit to Pyongyang this week, North Korean state media said Friday, in one of the most high-level meetings between the allies in years.
Beijing's third highest-ranking official Zhao Leji -- a member of the powerful Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo -- is on a goodwill visit to the nuclear-armed North as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.
China is North Korea's most important economic benefactor and diplomatic ally, obstructing US-led efforts at the UN Security Council alongside Russia to impose stricter sanctions on Kim Jong Un's regime in response to its increased weapons tests.
Zhao arrived in the North Korean capital on Thursday and met North Korean counterpart Choe Ryong Hae, discussing exchange and cooperation in all fields, including politics, economy and culture, KCNA said.
The talks exchanged views on the regional and international issues of mutual concern, it added, without specifying.
Zhao is China's third highest-ranking official, behind President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Xi last met Kim in 2019 before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, making the Pyongyang meeting between Zhao and Choe one of the most high-level meetings in years.
South Korean local media reports said Zhao's visit could include planning for Kim's next potential state visit to Beijing.
China's state-run news agency Xinhua said the two officials also discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula, and Zhao expressed Beijing's willingness to intensify legislative exchanges and cooperation.
Choe and Zhao signed relevant cooperation documents in the fields of mutual exemption of diplomatic visas between China and North Korea, mutual translation and publication of classic works, customs and quarantine, radio and television, and postal express delivery, Xinhua said.
Kim has tried to shore up relations with Beijing as he increases his aggressive rhetoric towards South Korea.
As North Korea's biggest trading partner, the Chinese products that dominate exports include soybean oil and rubber tyres, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a trade data project linked to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Pyongyang's top exports include tungsten ore, ferroalloys and hair products such as fake eyelashes and wigs.