China's President Xi Jinping makes state visit to North Korea

China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on 8 June for a two‑day state visit, the first by a Chinese leader in nearly seven years. Kim Jong‑un and his wife Ri Sol‑ju met Xi at the airport, greeted him with a military honour fire‑power of 21 salutes, a red carpet and schoolchildren presenting flowers. The leaders then shook hands and proceeded to a formal welcome ceremony at Kim Il‑sung Square, followed by a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China‑North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, underscoring the symbolic importance of the bilateral relationship. In a Rodong Sinmun editorial published the day before the trip, Xi called for a “multi‑polar world” and deeper economic globalization, urging both sides to enhance strategic coordination, uphold a United Nations‑centered international order and maintain regional peace and stability. Officials said the talks would cover a range of issues, including economic cooperation and the broader security situation on the Korean Peninsula.