Xi Jinping makes state visit to North Korea after seven years

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang for a one‑night, two‑day state visit, his first to North Korea since 2019. Xi emphasized the “traditional friendship” between Beijing and Pyongyang and called for a multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization. He said the two countries must jointly safeguard equal, orderly global order and oppose hegemonic and militaristic ambitions.

North Korean officials said the visit would not include discussion of the nuclear issue, maintaining that the country's nuclear status is non‑negotiable. Analysts, however, expect that nuclear‑related talks may occur behind the scenes, as the visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China‑North Korea Friendship Treaty. The trip follows a recent US‑China summit that did not mention denuclearisation, prompting North Korea to reject a US statement confirming a shared goal of complete denuclearisation.

Experts note that China seeks to balance its strategic interests in the Korean Peninsula, counter US influence, and preserve its own leverage over North Korea while monitoring the strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.