IAD Boss and FM Say Farewell to Li Jinjun
Outgoing PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Li Jinjun meets with WPK International Affairs Department Director Kim Song Nam at Mansuade Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 22 December 2021
Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Li Jinjun met with senior Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] International Affairs Department [IAD] and Foreign Ministry officials as part of a series of farewell interactions before he returns home. These meetings were filed by DPRK state media under the “Meanwhile…” category.
Li met with IAD Director Kim Song Nam (a.k.a. the China Master) and senior IAD personnel on 22 December (Wednesday). During their meeting, Kim “spoke highly of Ambassador Li’s outstanding performance and great contributions to promoting the development of relations between the two parties and two countries.” Kim hoped that Li “would continue to support the development of relations between the two parties and two countries.” Li Jinjun thanked the IAD “for its long-term support, help and concern for him and the embassy.”
Ambassador Li emphasized that “the relationship between the two parties should continue to play a role stabilizing and boosting the relationship between the two parties and promote the relationship between the two parties and two countries.” Li told Kim that the DPRK should “keep pushing forward” and he wished the DPRK party and people “under the leadership of General-Secretary Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) will continue to achieve new victories in the cause of socialism.”
Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Li Jinjun (left) talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon (right) at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 22 December 2021
DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon (Ri So’n-kwon) also met with Ambassador Li on 22 December. During their meeting Ri “spoke highly of Ambassador Li Jinjun’s work, following the lofty will of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries” and for “making great contributions to the development of friendly relations between the DPRK and China.” Ri hopes that Ambassador Li “will continue to pay attention to the development of friendly relations” after he returns home. Ri Son Gwon also wished “the Chinese people will continue to make new and greater achievements one after another in the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Li Jinjun thanked the Foreign Ministry for “its strong support and assistance during his work in the DPRK” and emphasized his hopes that “the two foreign ministries will continue to work together, communicate and cooperate closely, and promote the deepening and development of China-DPRK friendly relations in accordance with the requirements of the new era.” Ambassador Li also noted that the DPRK people have “continuously made new achievements in the struggle to implement the spirit of the Eight National Congress of the [WPK].”
