North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message and a flower basket to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his birthday, continuing a series of gestures highlighting closer ties between Pyongyang and Beijing. The move comes after Xi's recent visit to North Korea, during which the two sides pledged to strengthen cooperation across political, economic and military sectors.

According to Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Kim sent a message on June 15 marking Xi's birthday, expressing his wishes for the Chinese leader's continued health and success.

"I sincerely wish Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping good health and even greater achievements in leading China's socialist construction as the core leader of the Communist Party of China," Kim said in the message.

The flower basket carried a message reading, "Warm congratulations on the birthday of Comrade Xi Jinping," and was delivered by North Korea's ambassador to China to officials from the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The exchange took place just one week after Xi's June 8-9 state visit to Pyongyang and is widely seen as another symbol of the rapidly improving relationship between the two countries.

During summit talks with Kim, Xi publicly expressed support for expanding cooperation not only in politics, diplomacy and economic affairs, but also between the two countries' militaries. The two leaders also agreed to deepen exchanges and strategic communication this year, which marks the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China.

The two countries have recently accelerated efforts to restore ties through renewed exchanges among party, government and military officials. China remains North Korea's largest trading partner and plays a critical role in the country's economic recovery efforts, while Pyongyang appears intent on maintaining stable relations with its longtime ally even as it deepens cooperation with Russia.

Kim's birthday message is viewed as a reaffirmation of both sides' commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation and sustaining the friendly atmosphere created by Xi's visit to Pyongyang.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message and a flower basket to Chine …

North Korea's Kim Sends Birthday Message to Xi, Underscoring Deepening Ties With China