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Xi Jinping concludes two-day visit to Pyongyang
Chinese President Xi Jinping left North Korea on Tuesday after a two-day state visit, marking his first official trip to the country since 2019. The visit underscored the strategic importance of bilateral ties amid shifting global alliances.
Symbolic gestures dominate Xi's arrival
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rolled out an extravagant welcome for Xi on Monday, featuring a red-carpet ceremony and elaborate acrobatic performances. The display was widely seen as an effort to highlight the strength of the China-North Korea relationship.
According to North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency, Kim described Xi's choice of Pyongyang for his first state visit of the year as a demonstration of the "utmost importance" placed on their partnership.
Strategic messaging amid global shifts
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to reassert influence over its unpredictable but strategically vital neighbor, which has grown closer to Russia in recent years. Analysts suggest Xi aimed to remind Kim that China remains North Korea's primary benefactor.
For Kim, the visit served as a counterbalance to international sanctions, showcasing his ability to host high-profile leaders like Xi shortly after the Chinese president met with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Shared rhetoric, unresolved differences
At an evening banquet on Monday, Xi praised the "common destiny" shared by China and North Korea, describing their relationship as "linked by mountains and rivers." Kim reaffirmed North Korea's commitment to the friendship as a "top priority" and endorsed Beijing's "One China" principle.
The leaders also acknowledged the 65th anniversary of their mutual defense pact, the only such agreement China maintains with any country.
"This visit will jointly open up a brighter future for the socialist cause of both countries," Xi said, according to state outlet Xinhua.
Xi Jinping
However, discussions on North Korea's denuclearization were conspicuously absent from state media readouts, reflecting China's softened stance on the issue in recent years.
Diplomatic optics and lingering tensions
Xi's delegation included key figures such as his chief of staff Cai Qi, Defense Minister Dong Jun, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. On Tuesday, the leaders visited the Friendship Tower, honoring Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, and planted a fir tree symbolizing their enduring bond.
Xi stayed at the Kumsusan State Guest House, an exclusive residence built in 2019 for his first visit to Pyongyang. The venue has also hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Despite the lavish displays, tensions persist. Beijing has long urged Pyongyang to adopt China's model of one-party rule combined with market reforms, but Kim has shown little interest in following that path. Sydney Seiler, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted on social media that Xi's frustration may stem from North Korea's refusal to embrace China's developmental experience.
