Xi and Kim pledge strategic deepening at rare Pyongyang summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years aims to reassert Beijing’s influence as Pyongyang strengthens ties with Russia, though nuclear issues remain off the agenda.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have pledged to deepen strategic cooperation during a rare state visit to Pyongyang, marking Xi’s first trip to the country in seven years. The summit, held late on Monday, saw the leaders agree to strengthen strategic communication and coordination to safeguard their shared interests, according to official reports from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim Jong Un welcomed Xi with a red carpet, guard of honour, and a 21-gun salute, describing the Chinese president as the “greatest state guest.” Kim reaffirmed Pyongyang’s support for Beijing’s “one China” principle and stated that maintaining friendship with China remains the “most important top-priority strategic work.” He noted that Xi choosing North Korea as his first foreign travel destination this year represented the “most encouraging support” for the regime.
Xi Jinping declared that bilateral relations had reached a “new historical starting point,” coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Treaty. State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi expressed willingness to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, construction, and technology, emphasising the need to firmly safeguard respective sovereignty and security interests.
The visit is widely interpreted as an effort by Beijing to reassert its influence over a neighbour that has increasingly turned to Russia for military and economic support in the war in Ukraine. Al Jazeera analysts noted that China is employing a “carrot rather than stick” approach, leveraging its position as North Korea’s dominant trading partner to keep Pyongyang within its orbit. Experts suggested Xi may also aim to expand Chinese “red tourism” to foster revolutionary nostalgia tied to the Korean War era.
Despite North Korea’s recent announcement to exponentially increase its nuclear production capacity, official reports from both Beijing and Pyongyang omitted any discussion of denuclearisation or relations with the United States. Xi is expected to visit the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower in Pyongyang on Tuesday to commemorate Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War, further cementing the historical narrative of ties forged in blood.
