Chinese President Xi Jinping visits North Korea for rare diplomatic trip

Chinese President Xi Jinping Arrives in Pyongyang for Rare State Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, marking his first state visit to North Korea in seven years. The visit was welcomed by a large crowd of people dressed in festive attire, including children holding flags, flowers, and balloons. The crowd gathered at Pyongyang’s main square, where buildings were adorned with the Chinese and North Korean flags.

Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted by North Korean President Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju upon arrival at the international airport. A 21-gun salute was performed, accompanied by a military band playing both countries’ national anthems.

During his two-day visit, Xi Jinping is expected to hold a summit with Kim Jong Un. The two leaders met in Beijing last year during China’s 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, which marked the end of World War II. In an editorial prior to his visit, Xi Jinping stated that relations between China and North Korea were at a “new historical starting point” facing new development opportunities.

Xi Jinping has written about maintaining and developing ties with North Korea as an unwavering policy of the Communist Party. Historically, Beijing played a significant role in the China-North Korea relationship, with Pyongyang relying heavily on its trade partner for 95% of its commerce, according to a 2022 estimate by the National Committee on North Korea.

Xi Jinping’s visit is seen as an opportunity for him to reassert China’s influence over North Korea and prevent it from leaning too heavily towards Russia. Analysts suggest that Xi Jinping may offer economic aid packages, including shipments of rice and fertilizers, resumption of Chinese group tourism, and joint economic projects, in order to demonstrate China’s leadership role in Northeast Asia during a period of strategic competition with the US.

Source: Al Jazeera