Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged unwavering support for North Korea during a summit in Pyongyang on June 8-9, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to safeguarding shared interests and reinforcing strategic ties with its isolated neighbor. This visit marks Xi’s first trip to North Korea in seven years and comes amid shifting regional dynamics and Pyongyang’s growing economic and military ties with Russia.

In talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Xi emphasized the importance of defending sovereignty, security, and development for both countries. Chinese state media summarized Xi’s message as a reaffirmation of China’s "traditional friendship" with North Korea and an unchanging determination to support Kim’s leadership of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Xi stated that China’s backing would persist regardless of changes in the international landscape.

The official welcome included a red-carpet reception, with Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju greeting Xi alongside a military guard of honor. A 21-gun salute was fired at Kim Il Sung Square, a central venue for military parades and official events, where crowds gathered beneath large portraits of the two leaders, waving flags and releasing balloons.

Before meeting Kim, Xi described the current phase of bilateral relations as a “new historical starting point,” calling for enhanced cooperation across diplomacy, law enforcement, military affairs, agriculture, trade, technology, and construction. He also urged North Korea to oppose what he described as “hegemony, authoritarianism, and attempts to revive militarism” that could destabilize the region. These comments were highlighted in North Korean state media.

Experts view the summit as a signal that Beijing continues to regard Pyongyang as a strategic partner within a broader geopolitical context. Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, noted that China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran share interests in counterbalancing U.S. influence and testing its alliances in the region. John Delury, senior fellow at the Asia Society, described Xi’s visit as a move to maintain longstanding ties in a markedly altered environment compared to the last trip.

During the two-day visit, Xi was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, as well as key officials including Cai Qi, the de facto chief of staff; Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Defence Minister Dong Jun; and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. Xi called for expanded people-to-people exchanges to build upon the renewed diplomatic engagement and highlighted cooperation toward promoting “fair and orderly multilateralism” and inclusive economic globalization, with a focus on lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia.