SEOUL: Chinese President Xi Jinping has told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that Beijing will not waver in its commitment to shared interests or in its support for the North Korean leadership during a rare summit held in Pyongyang on Monday.
Xi said the two neighbouring countries should deepen strategic cooperation and firmly safeguard their sovereignty, security, and development interests, according to an official Chinese summary of the meeting.
The visit, Xi’s first to North Korea in seven years, comes at a time when Pyongyang is reportedly benefiting from stronger economic and military ties with Russia, a development that could strengthen Kim Jong Un’s position in future diplomatic engagements. Xi expressed personal warmth toward Kim, saying he felt “deeply pleased” and a “special sense of closeness” during the meeting.
Reaffirming Beijing’s position, Xi stated that “the firm support for Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un’s leadership of the DPRK socialist cause will not change,” adding that China’s resolve to protect shared strategic interests and maintain a stable regional environment also remains unchanged. DPRK is the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Xi was received in Pyongyang with a red-carpet welcome by Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, accompanied by a military honour guard. Chinese state media footage showed children presenting bouquets, while a 21-gun salute was fired at Kim Il Sung Square, according to Xinhua news agency.
The Chinese president described bilateral relations as being at a “new historical starting point” and called for expanded cooperation across diplomacy, military affairs, trade, and technology. He added that “important consensus” had been reached during talks and noted these developments at a banquet hosted by Kim.
Xi also urged efforts to “oppose hegemony, authoritarianism and all attempts and conspiracies to revive militarism that endanger regional security and stability,” according to remarks published by North Korean state media.
Analysts say the meeting underscores Beijing’s continued view of Pyongyang as a strategic partner. Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said the summit highlights shared interests among China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran in countering US influence.
Since last year, North Korea has resumed cross-border movement with China and expanded exchanges that were previously disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Xi encouraged both sides to use these renewed links to expand people-to-people contacts.
Sydney Seiler of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies noted that improving North Korea-Russia ties, along with growing China-North Korea relations, could affect how long Kim Jong Un is able to maintain distance from Washington and Seoul.