First visit in 7 years reaffirms close North Korea-China ties; Pyongyang chosen as Xi's first overseas trip this year
![Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrive at a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in September last year. [Reuters]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/08/news-p.v1.20260608.a4f09599e6e5486f8e888d444ce2ca22_P1.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Pyongyang on Monday (local time), as Xi arrived for a two-day state visit.
China Central Television and Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi's official aircraft, carrying the president and his wife Peng Liyuan, touched down at Pyongyang airport around noon. Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju were on hand to receive them.
Xi stepped off the plane and shook hands with Kim, while children presented the couple with bouquets of flowers.
A red carpet had been laid out ahead of Xi's arrival, and large North Korean and Chinese flags were displayed on the terminal building.
Banners reading "Warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping" and "Long live the unbreakable friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Korea and China" were hung at the airport in both Korean and Chinese.
Xi will be in North Korea through Tuesday on a state visit — his first trip to the country since June 2019, seven years ago. On that occasion, Kim and his wife also greeted Xi and Peng at the airport.
During the visit, Xi is scheduled to exchange views with Kim on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
The trip also marks Xi's first overseas visit this year.
Xi was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, along with Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party and director of the General Office, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau and minister of foreign affairs.
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