Xi Jinping arrives in Pyongyang for rare state visit amid shifting regional alliances
Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun a two-day state visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The visit underscores Beijing’s strategic efforts to stabilise its relationship with Pyongyang against the backdrop of growing North Korean-Russian cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to North Korea in seven years. The arrival of Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, was marked by a 21-gun salute and military band performances at the international airport, where they were welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju.
A reception held at Pyongyang’s main square featured cheering crowds dressed in festive attire, with children holding flags, flowers, and balloons. Buildings across the capital were wrapped in the national flags of both China and North Korea, signalling the ceremonial importance of the occasion.
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to reassert its influence over Pyongyang amid growing ties between the North Korean and Russian governments. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with critical weapons, artillery, and manpower, a shift that has altered the traditional dynamics of the region. Experts suggest that China’s strategic goals include preventing North Korea from leaning too heavily towards Moscow and acquiring military technology to strengthen its own regional position.
During the summit, Xi is expected to discuss bilateral relations with Kim, which the Chinese leadership has described as being at a “new historical starting point”. In an editorial published prior to the visit, Xi stated that maintaining and developing ties with North Korea has “always been an unwavering policy” of the Communist Party.
Historically, Beijing has acted as the senior partner in the relationship, with North Korea relying on China for approximately 95 percent of its trade, according to a 2022 estimate by the US-based National Committee on North Korea. Analysts suggest potential outcomes of the current visit could include economic aid packages, such as shipments of rice and fertilisers, the resumption of Chinese group tourism, and joint economic projects.
The two leaders previously met in Beijing one year ago during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This latest engagement occurs against a broader backdrop of strategic competition between China and the United States in Northeast Asia, with Xi aiming to demonstrate China’s leadership role in the region.
