Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up a two-day visit to Pyongyang, marking his first official trip to North Korea since 2019. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended a grand welcome for Xi upon his arrival on Monday, featuring a red-carpet reception and elaborate acrobatic performances. While no concrete agreements emerged from the visit, its significance was acknowledged by Kim, who stated that Xi's choice of Pyongyang for his first state visit of the year demonstrated the "utmost importance" placed on bilateral ties, as reported by state news outlet KCNA.
Strategic Reaffirmation Amid Regional Dynamics
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to reassert influence over its strategically vital yet unpredictable partner, which has grown closer to Russia. Through this trip, President Xi likely aimed to remind Kim that China remains North Korea's primary benefactor. For Kim, hosting such a high-profile guest shortly after Xi's meetings with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin serves to showcase his important allies despite ongoing international sanctions.
Leaders Exchange Praise and Commitments
At an evening banquet on Monday, Xi praised relations between the two countries, stating that China and North Korea are "linked by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny," according to state outlet Xinhua. Kim echoed these sentiments, affirming that North Korea would continue to prioritize its friendship with China and reiterated support for Beijing's "One China" principle. Kim noted that the visit underscores the strength of their friendship amid "upheaval in international affairs." Xi added that he had reached an "important consensus" with Kim to "grasp the trend of the times" and deepen both high-level exchanges and people-to-people bonds.
Anniversary of Defense Pact
The two leaders also highlighted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea defense pact, which is China's only such treaty with any country. China remains North Korea's most crucial political and economic partner, serving as a lifeline under heavy international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.
Denuclearization Discussions Absent
Despite North Korea's reliance on China, Kim appeared to achieve his stance on at least one key issue: discussions about denuclearization were notably absent from state media readouts of Monday's talks. This omission is not surprising, as China has recently toned down its calls for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and avoided public mention of it.
High-Level Delegation and Symbolic Gestures
Xi was accompanied by top officials, including de facto chief of staff Cai Qi, Defense Minister Dong Jun, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. On Tuesday, both leaders visited the Friendship Tower, which commemorates Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, and stopped by Pyongyang's top cadre school, where they planted a fir tree symbolizing their evergreen friendship, as reported by Xinhua.
Exclusive Guest House
During his stay, Xi was hosted at the Kumsusan State Guest House, an exclusive residence in central Pyongyang. Built in 2019 for Xi's first state visit, the guest house has also hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Analysts note that elements in Chinese reports suggest possible frustration on Xi's part. Sydney Seiler, Korea Chair at CSIS, commented on social media that Kim does not mention any process to develop and "North Korea still refuses to learn from China's developmental experience."
