Xi Jinping Arrives in Pyongyang for High-Level Talks with Kim Jong-un

China and North Korea Reaffirm Strategic Partnership

Beijing [China], June 8, 2026, BNN Web Staff: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day state visit, where he is scheduled to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.

The visit is expected to focus on strengthening long-standing bilateral ties and reaffirming what both sides describe as a historic friendship between the neighbouring countries, with an emphasis on expanding cooperation across political, economic, and strategic sectors.

Xi Jinping’s trip comes at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments in East Asia, as North Korea continues to deepen its defence cooperation with Russia following a mutual defence agreement signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in 2024.

The Chinese President’s visit also follows recent diplomatic exchanges involving global leaders, including visits by US President Donald Trump to Beijing and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s engagements in China, underscoring the intensifying global power competition.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, along with his wife Ri Sol Ju, welcomed Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan upon their arrival at the airport, where the two leaders exchanged greetings and shook hands, Xinhua reported.

Xi is accompanied by senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi, Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, highlighting the importance Beijing attaches to the visit.

Ahead of the talks, Xi Jinping published a signed article in North Korea’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun, stating that China-DPRK relations stand at a “new historical starting point” and should be further strengthened through strategic communication and deeper institutional cooperation.

He emphasised the need to enhance coordination between party, government, and military institutions, while also calling for joint efforts to uphold the international system centred on the United Nations and resist what he described as unilateralism and hegemonism.

Xi also stressed cooperation in promoting a multipolar global order and inclusive economic globalisation, reiterating China’s commitment to shared development goals with Pyongyang.

The visit marks the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, a milestone both sides are expected to highlight as part of renewed diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile, North Korean officials, including Kim Yo Jong, have recently reiterated the country’s position on its nuclear status, rejecting external calls for denuclearisation and criticising what it termed misinformation from US officials regarding recent diplomatic discussions.

The developments come amid continued missile tests and heightened military activity on the Korean Peninsula, adding further complexity to already fragile regional security dynamics.