Xi vows – China’s President Xi Jinping, on a rare two-day visit to Pyongyang, told Kim Jong Un Beijing will not waver in support, while pushing for deeper ties across diplomacy, trade, technology and security. The summit comes as North Korea strengthens links with Russi
China’s President Xi Jinping walked into Pyongyang for the first time in seven years, welcomed by red carpet and ceremony, and left no doubt about what China expects in return.
On Monday. June 8. during a rare summit with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. Xi told Kim that China would “not swerve” from safeguarding “common interests” with Pyongyang. and would not waver in its support for Kim’s leadership. an official Chinese summary of the meeting showed. Xi pressed for stronger strategic ties and urged both sides to “firmly protect” their sovereignty, security and development interests.
“I am deeply pleased and also feel a special sense of closeness,” Xi told Kim, during his first international trip this year.
Xi also reaffirmed China’s commitment as the international environment changes. telling Kim China would continue to “highly value its traditional friendship with North Korea. ” the summary said. He said China’s “firm support” for Kim’s leadership of the DPRK socialist cause “will not change. ” adding that the determination to safeguard common interests and a “good strategic environment” would also “not change.” Xi referred to North Korea by its formal name. the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The setting matched the message. Xi arrived to a red-carpet welcome from Kim and Kim’s wife Ri Sol Ju. along with a guard of honour. Children presented bouquets of flowers. and Chinese state media footage showed a ceremony in the capital where a 21-gun salute was fired at Kim Il Sung Square—a site used for military parades and state celebrations. Spectators, dwarfed by huge portraits of the two leaders, chanted slogans and released balloons, the Xinhua news agency said.
Before the public performances, Xi framed the visit as a step into fresh territory. In remarks published earlier. he said the ties had reached “a new historical starting point.” He then urged expanded exchanges across areas ranging from diplomacy. law enforcement and the military to agriculture. trade. technology and construction.
In the background, the summit’s stakes were difficult to miss. The neighbors share an interest, along with Russia and Iran, in blunting U.S. power and straining U.S. alliances, according to Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies fellow’s view was that Xi-Kim engagement signals Beijing still regards Pyongyang as a “strategic asset.”.
Xi’s message to Kim wasn’t only about closeness. He called on North Korea to “oppose hegemony, authoritarianism and all attempts and conspiracies to revive militarism that endanger regional security and stability” in remarks published in North Korea’s state media on Monday.
Xi also pledged to work with North Korea to promote “fair and orderly multilateralism” and “inclusive economic globalisation,” while framing long-term regional peace and stability as a shared goal.
For China’s leadership, the trip also reflected a deliberate rhythm. Xi said earlier that the summit was about keeping the relationship’s “tradition alive” even as conditions differ from his last visit, John Delury, a senior fellow of the Asia Society, said in a post on X.
Beyond the ceremonies, Xi made clear how the restored relationship could be used. Xi told Kim that both should capitalize on restored links as “an opportunity to expand people-to-people exchanges.”
He arrived in Pyongyang accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, as well as Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Defence Minister Dong Jun and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
The political theater has followed months of renewed engagement. Xi had hosted Kim and other leaders last year at a massive military parade in Beijing. alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, Pyongyang resumed crossings at the Chinese border and stepped up exchanges frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Air China also resumed flights between the capitals in March.
The timing comes as North Korea increases its pressure posture. On the eve of Xi’s arrival, Pyongyang sought to flex its strength by unveiling plans for a 10,000-ton naval destroyer and reaffirming its status as a nuclear-armed state.
Estimates of North Korea’s nuclear capacity underscore the tension. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said on Sunday. June 7 that North Korea probably has a nuclear arsenal of about 60 warheads. up from 50 a year ago. It also estimated North Korea is stepping up output of fissile material beyond a level now sufficient for at least 30 more warheads.
Put together. the sequence of statements and ceremonies suggests a relationship built to withstand international pressure—while also being used to shape what comes next. Xi’s promises of unwavering support. his call for broader ties from trade to technology. and China’s push for multilateral goals land alongside Pyongyang’s renewed activity and its military signaling.
Analysts see why that pairing matters. Sydney Seiler of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies said the “sustainability of improved North Korea-Russia and increasing North Korea-China relations” may influence “just how long Kim can continue to ignore Washington and Seoul.”
Flags of both countries lined the main avenues of the North Korean capital in a video issued by Xinhua as Xi’s visit unfolded.
Xi Jinping Kim Jong Un Pyongyang summit China North Korea relations U.S. power Russia North Korea ties nuclear warheads Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Air China flights 10 000-ton naval destroyer