Chinese leader Xi Jinping was received with great pomp in North Korea. Xi Jinping stated that he wants to elevate the relations with the Pyongyang regime “to new heights”.
In Pyongyang, giant portraits of Xi and Kim were displayed in Kim Il Sung Square. A military welcoming ceremony took place, after the North Korean leader and his wife went to the airport at midnight to greet the Chinese official and his spouse.
Xi accompanied Kim in front of the honor guard, while the crowd waved flags, flowers, and balloons in the center of Pyongyang, notes news.ro.
China remains a primary diplomatic and economic supporter of North Korea. Most likely, Xi will try to emphasize that his relationship with Kim Jong Un’s administration is more prominent than that of the Kremlin.
The visit is the first significant trip abroad in 2026, in a context where leaders from around the world, including the presidents of the United States and Russia, have visited Beijing.
The Chinese leader told his host that he is ready “to maintain close strategic communication and continue to guide the relations between China and North Korea to new heights. The two sides should strengthen their diplomatic, police, and military exchanges.”