Xi Jinping arrives in Pyongyang, greeted by Kim Jong-un before summit talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Pyongyang's Sunan Airport aboard his state aircraft around noon Monday, formally beginning a two-day visit to North Korea.

Xi departed Beijing that morning with his wife Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi — secretary of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Secretariat and a Politburo Standing Committee member ranked fifth in the official hierarchy — and Wang Yi, director of the Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission, who also serves as foreign minister, according to China Central Television and Xinhua News Agency.

Upon landing, Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju received Xi and Peng at the airport. The two leaders shook hands warmly as Xi descended from the aircraft, and children approached the couple to present bouquets. A red carpet had been laid out ahead of Xi's arrival, and large North Korean and Chinese flags were displayed inside the terminal to welcome the Chinese delegation. North Korea also posted welcome messages in both Korean and Chinese, including "We warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping" and "Long live the unbreakable friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Korea and China."

Kim and Ri had also come to the airport in person to receive Xi and Peng during Xi's previous visit to Pyongyang in June 2019. On that occasion, nearly 10,000 people gathered at the airport waving bouquets, and children dressed in hanbok performed dances. North Korea held an unusually large reception at the airport before staging a separate welcome ceremony at the plaza of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, formerly known as Kumsusan Palace.

This time, Kim and Ri greeted Xi and Peng at the airport before traveling together to a welcome ceremony at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. Chinese media reported that Kim and Ri accompanied Xi to the Kumsusan State Guesthouse for the two-day visit running through Tuesday. Summit talks between Xi and Kim were expected to follow immediately after the welcome ceremony.