A signed People's Daily commentary, under the pen name “Zhong Sheng”, on September 9, 2018 stated that PBSC Member Li Zhanshu’s visit to North Korea as Xi Jinping’s special representative “fully demonstrated the great importance China attached to China-North Korean relationship under a new situation,” and that this arrangement “is helpful in safeguarding the region’s peace and stability.” The article maintained that “Kim Jong Un has… taken a series of positive measures and achieved unprecedentedly remarkable achievements in developing economy and improving people’s livelihood.” It stressed that the “Chinese Party’s and state’s firm stances on devoting to consolidating the development of China-North Korean relations, Chinese people’s friendship with North Koreans, and China’s support to a socialist North Korea will not change, regardless how the international and regional situations change.”

(Comment: The pen name “Zhong Sheng” indicates that the commentary or article has high level Party approval and authoritatively transmits the official positions of People’s Daily on matters of international affairs.)