Kim Jong-un Sends Condolence Message to China's Xi Jinping: "Deep Condolences on Jiang Zemin's Passing"

Declaration of the '16-Character Policy' Based on North Korea-China Relations
Anecdote of Encouraging 'Economic Opening' in Meeting with Kim Jong-il

Late former Chinese President Jiang Zemin shaking hands with Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a condolence message to Xi Jinping, President of China, expressing his condolences on the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 2nd, in the condolence message sent on the 30th of last month, General Secretary Kim stated, "I received the sad news of the passing of Comrade Jiang Zemin, and on behalf of the Workers' Party of Korea, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the entire Korean people, and myself, I express my deep condolences to Comrade General Secretary, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the government of the People's Republic of China, the fraternal Chinese people, and the bereaved family of the deceased."

He said, "Comrade Jiang Zemin devoted dedicated efforts to the strengthening and development of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China and the happiness of the Chinese people. He proposed the important thought of the 'Three Represents' and made great contributions to the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics," adding, "Comrade Jiang Zemin sincerely supported and encouraged our people's socialist cause and actively worked to firmly develop the traditional Korea-China (North Korea-China) friendship."

He continued, "Although Comrade Jiang Zemin has passed away, his achievements will be eternal," and "I hope that the Chinese Party, government, and people will overcome the pain of loss and achieve greater success in realizing the cause of socialist modernization under the leadership of Comrade General Secretary."

The news agency also reported that General Secretary Kim sent a wreath to Jiang Zemin's memorial. The wreath, delivered the previous day by the North Korean ambassador to China to the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reportedly bore the inscription "In memory of Comrade Jiang Zemin."

Earlier, Jiang Zemin, who passed away on the 30th of last month, had an anecdote from May 2000 when he met Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, and encouraged him to "pursue economic opening policies." In September 2001, during his return visit to Pyongyang, he met Kim Jong-il and declared the "16-character policy (繼承傳統 面向未來 睦隣友好 加强合作)" which means "Inherit tradition, look to the future, maintain good-neighborly relations, and strengthen cooperation." This principle has become a consistent emphasis in North Korea-China summit meetings by China's top leaders, including Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.