Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a rare visit to North Korea on Monday, where he met with leader Kim Jong Un and vowed to deepen cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The visit, Xi’s first trip to Pyongyang since 2019, comes amid shifting geopolitical alliances and follows a series of high-profile meetings he recently hosted in Beijing, including talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, received a grand welcome upon arrival in Pyongyang, with Kim personally greeting them at the airport. The ceremony featured military honours, red-carpet treatment and crowds waving Chinese and North Korean flags.
During bilateral talks, Xi expressed his desire to elevate relations between the two countries and expand cooperation in several areas, including diplomacy, law enforcement and military affairs.
According to Chinese state media, Xi told Kim that the long-standing friendship between their nations would remain strong regardless of changes in the international environment.
“No matter how the international situation changes… the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK will not change,” he said.
North Korea has historically depended on China for trade, economic assistance and diplomatic backing, especially as Pyongyang continues to face international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.
However, Kim has strengthened ties with Moscow in recent years, particularly after supporting Russia during the war in Ukraine and deepening cooperation with Putin.
Despite their close relationship, Beijing and Pyongyang have not always agreed on nuclear issues. China has consistently advocated for a denuclearised Korean Peninsula, while North Korea maintains that its nuclear programme is non-negotiable.
The visit comes shortly after discussions between Xi and Trump, during which both leaders reportedly reaffirmed support for the denuclearisation of North Korea.
However, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, recently stated that the country’s nuclear weapons programme remains a permanent part of its national strategy.
Analysts believe China is increasingly focused on maintaining stability in North Korea rather than pushing aggressively for denuclearisation. Some observers also see Xi’s visit as an effort to reinforce Beijing’s influence in Pyongyang amid Russia’s growing presence in the region.
Experts note that North Korea remains strategically important to China as a buffer state between itself and U.S.-allied countries such as South Korea and Japan.
Xi last met Kim in September, when he invited both the North Korean leader and Putin to a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The latest summit underscores the importance both governments place on their long-standing alliance as regional tensions continue to evolve in East Asia.
