A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Dalian, China, May 8, 2018. EPA-Yonhap

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to strengthen "strategic communication" with North Korea in his message to the North's leader Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the North Korean regime, state media reported Monday.

The message — the first in eight months — came as relations between Pyongyang and Beijing have become relatively estranged, in contrast to Pyongyang's deepening military and other cooperation with Russia amid Moscow's war with Ukraine.

In the message, Xi said China will continue to develop traditional relations with North Korea from a strategic and long-term perspective, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"We will deepen strategic communication and strengthen cooperation with the North in a bid to further consolidate and develop the friendly ties between the two," Xi was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

It marked Xi's first message to Kim since Jan. 1, when he sent a New Year's greeting to the North's leader.

China is the North's longtime ally and largest economic benefactor. Ahead of the Oct. 6, the 75th anniversary of North Korea and China forging diplomatic ties, their relations seem to be chilly, with no signs of preparations for grand celebrations yet.

For North Korea, it could be disturbing to see that China held a three-way summit with South Korea and Japan in May at a time when Beijing appears to be cautious about joining Pyongyang's drive to deepen trilateral solidarity with Russia and China.

Kim has also received congratulatory messages over the anniversary from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the KCNA said.

In a message to Kim, Putin said relations between Russia and North Korea have reached a higher level, as evidenced by "constructive" summit talks between him and Kim in June in Pyongyang.

After the talks, Kim and Putin signed a new partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense clause in a sign of the two nations bolstering military cooperation.

"I am sure that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and the DPRK will be strengthened in a planned way thanks to our joint efforts," Putin said, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Cuba's Diaz-Canel also sent a message to Kim and expressed his willingness to continue to strengthen close solidarity with North Korea.

South Korea and Cuba forged diplomatic ties in February in a surprise move that probably dealt a blow to Pyongyang, which has long boasted brotherly ties with the Caribbean nation.

"We are highly appreciating our relations with the DPRK that are based on brotherly ties and historical foundations," Diaz-Canel said. (Yonhap)