The official Korean Central News Agency reported that China is ready to strengthen its relationship with North Korea to enhance strategic cooperation on international and regional affairs.

The agency added that Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned this in a message sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, noting that it was in response to a congratulatory message from Kim on the occasion of China’s Communist Party anniversary.

Xi was quoted as saying that China and North Korea are “neighboring and close friends,” sharing a common destiny and mutual assistance, and that the bonds of friendship between them are growing stronger. Xi added in the message, as conveyed by the agency, that the two leaders prepared a “roadmap” to strengthen relations during Kim’s visit to China last September.

In a separate report, the Korean Central News Agency said that the foreign ministers of Indonesia and North Korea held a meeting yesterday, Saturday, in Pyongyang. The agency added that the two sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest. It also reported that the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on common issues without providing details.

The agency also said that the Indonesian minister was among the foreign visitors participating in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the ruling party in North Korea.