The traditional friendship and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continued to grow in 2013.

Political relations between the two sides moved forward steadily. On 14 March, Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and First Chairman of the National Defense Commission, sent a message of congratulations to Xi Jinping on being elected President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. On 14 March, Kim Yong Nam, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK sent messages of congratulations to Xi Jinping on being elected President of the People's Republic of China and to Zhang Dejiang on being elected Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC). On 15 March, Prime Minister of the DPRK Choe Yong Rim sent a message of congratulations to Li Keqiang on taking office as Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

In July, Vice President Li Yuanchao led a Chinese delegation to the DPRK and attended activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice hosted by the DPRK. First Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong Un and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK Kim Yong Nam met with Vice President Li, and Vice Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop had talks with him.

In May, special envoy of First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un and member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee Choe Ryong Hae visited China. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee Liu Yunshan and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission Fan Changlong met with him separately.

In July, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun of the DPRK on the sidelines of the ARF Foreign Ministers Meetings in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. In June, the strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and the DPRK was held in Beijing.

Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all sectors continued to grow. China remained the biggest trading partner of the DPRK. Steady progress was made in win-win bilateral cooperation projects including "the Rason Economic and Trade Zone and the Hwanggumphyong Economic Zone". The delegation of veterans of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the art delegation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attended relevant activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in economic, cultural and other areas enjoyed sound development.