China's Xi Jinping sends congratulatory message to Kim Jong Un

SEOUL, May 9 (UPI) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to North Korea's Kim Jong Un after Kim was appointed to the new position of chairman of the Workers' Party.

In the missive, Xi said North Korea's party had produced a "new outcome" in socialist construction, under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong Un, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

Xi also reminded North Korea of the old ideological affinity between the countries, and said the "traditional friendship" is a "valuable asset" that has been built and "carefully nurtured" by older generations of communist cadres.

Both Xi and Kim are descendants of communist leaders. Kim is the biological grandson of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder, and Xi is the son of Xi Zhongxun, a political leader and communist revolutionary considered to be among the first generation of the Chinese leadership.

Xi's message also suggested the potential for economic reform, calling for cooperation on development for the sake of the "happiness" of both the Korean and Chinese peoples.

Pyongyang publicly acknowledged the message Tuesday, local time.

According to state-controlled KCNA, "Comrade Xi Jinping sent a message of congratulations to Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea comrade Kim Jong Un on Monday."

North Korea stated Xi had sent "enthusiastic congratulations" to the young leader.

The statement from Xi did not make references to North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which is universally condemned in neighboring countries, including China.

Beijing has repeatedly called for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.