Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed cooperation between North Korea and their nations in messages to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 

According to the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday, Xi and Putin sent messages to Kim to congratulate him on the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the North Korean regime.

Xi reportedly said in his message that he highly values the relations of the two nations and intends to develop these friendly and cooperative ties to provide greater welfare for the people of the two nations. 

The KCNA reported that Putin said in his message that North Korea-Russia relations are based on the great tradition of mutual respect. 

Putin reportedly stressed that the two nations will continue to develop cooperative relations in various areas, which will contribute to promoting security and stability on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia.