Chinese president makes rare trip as nuclear talks remain stalled.
Image: Al Jazeera
PYONGYANG: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Monday, praising the countries’ “invincible friendship” during his first foreign trip of the year.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the airport. The visit is Xi’s first to Pyongyang since 2019.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and most important diplomatic ally, providing crucial economic support despite international sanctions.
Xi’s visit comes after recent meetings with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. It also follows continued deadlock in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.
While the White House said Xi and Trump support North Korea’s denuclearisation, Kim’s sister recently described the country’s nuclear weapons programme as “the line of no retreat.”
Analysts believe China now prioritises stability on the Korean Peninsula over efforts to pressure North Korea into giving up its nuclear arsenal.
In an article published by North Korean state media, Xi pledged deeper cooperation and said the traditional friendship between the two countries would remain strong regardless of global changes.
Experts say the visit may also help China strengthen ties with North Korea as Russia’s influence in Pyongyang continues to grow amid the war in Ukraine.
