Let the tree of traditional China–North Korea friendship take deeper root and flourish — A record of General Secretary Xi Jinping's state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

2026-06-10 Source: Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua, Beijing, June 10 — On his first foreign trip of 2026, he went to the socialist friendly neighbor bound by shared mountains, rivers and destiny —

From June 8 to 9, at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping conducted a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Respected Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping, Pyongyang has been waiting for you." The "most honored guest" arrived as scheduled; General Secretary Kim Jong Un said this was a "tremendous encouragement" to the DPRK side.

The early-summer breeze stirred bright flags, the majestic Arch of Triumph, the wide Avant-garde Street, the solemn China–DPRK Friendship Tower... Seven years passed in the blink of an eye, and General Secretary Xi Jinping returned to North Korea, feeling both the warmth of reuniting with familiar places and the joy of seeing new developments. "High-rise building after high-rise has sprung up; over these years, many welcome changes have taken place in Pyongyang."

In September 2025, during Kim Jong Un's visit to China, he also spoke from the heart: "Over the past six years, China has undergone earth-shaking changes and development that deeply moved me."

Both China and North Korea have entered fast tracks of development, and the world is undergoing major and profound changes. On the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea, what important messages does General Secretary Xi Jinping's highly watched visit to Pyongyang convey?

"We are willing to join hands with our North Korean comrades to move forward and write a new chapter, allowing the traditional China–North Korea friendship to shine with even more brilliant radiance in the new era, and to make greater contributions to promoting peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world."

(1)

On the morning of the 8th, copies of North Korea's Rodong Sinmun, still smelling of ink, were posted on newspaper stands on the streets of Pyongyang.

The front page carried an article signed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, "Inherit the Past and Forge Ahead Together: Writing a New Chapter in Traditional China–North Korea Friendship." Citizens stopped to read attentively. On the same page, the accompanying editorial brimmed with warmth: "Our people, with brotherly affection and friendship toward the Chinese people, warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping's return visit."

General Secretary Xi Jinping once described the close exchanges between the leaders of the two parties and two countries as "visiting each other like relatives." From Kim Jong Un's three visits to China within a hundred days in 2018, to reciprocal visits between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries within six months in 2019, to two historic meetings held more than nine months apart since last year... one good story after another written in the new era demonstrates the vigorous vitality of traditional China–North Korea friendship.

The most respected guest, the grandest of honors.

Twenty-one escort motorcycles provided an honor guard as the car carrying General Secretary Xi Jinping drove from Pyongyang Sunan International Airport to Kim Il-sung Square in the city center. At noon on the 8th, General Secretary Kim Jong Un held a grand welcome ceremony for General Secretary Xi Jinping here.

The national flags of China and North Korea flew high, and huge portraits of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries hung in the center of the square. Amid stirring welcome music and waves of cheers, General Secretary Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan warmly shook hands with General Secretary Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju, who came forward to greet them. Nine white horses stood solemnly to one side and red-uniformed cavalry stood tall; the North Korean side paid tribute to General Secretary Xi Jinping with this solemn reception.

Behind the reviewing stand, the People's Grand Study Hall was elegant and magnificent. The majestic national anthem, thunderous salutes, and 150 members of the Korean People's Army three-service honor guard shouted in Korean, "Wishing Comrade Xi Jinping good health." Innocent children beamed smiles, colorful balloons floated in the blue sky, fountains on the Taedong River leapt joyfully, and a strong festive atmosphere filled the air.

"Long live the unbreakable unity of Korea–China friendship" "May Korea–China friendship last forever"... red banners joined into a brilliant scroll of friendship. There were students, workers, doctors, civil servants... people from all walks of life in Pyongyang, dressed in their finery and holding bouquets, spontaneously took to the streets to welcome General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit.

China and North Korea as one family — engraved in history and deeply felt in people's hearts.

General Secretary Xi Jinping spent 27 hours in Pyongyang attending nine events; the schedule was tight, and General Secretary Kim Jong Un accompanied him throughout. He personally went to the airport to see them off and escorted the Xi couple back to their accommodation... each special arrangement was thoughtful and heartfelt.

White walls and green tiles, upturned eaves and ridges, verdant pines and cypresses, magnolias in bloom. The warm farewell banquet before parting was specially held in a banquet hall at the Jinxiu Mountain Guesthouse styled like a traditional North Korean residence.

General Secretary Xi Jinping gave special thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Un for the North Korean side's thoughtful arrangements: "Through this visit, we have felt even more the warmth and friendship of the Workers' Party, government and people of the DPRK toward the Chinese Party, government and people."

The inheritance of friendship and strategic leadership of the top leaders is the greatest advantage of China–North Korea relations. Time and again, deep exchanges and warm interactions have deepened trust and strengthened ties, making the future development direction of relations between the two parties and two countries clearer.

On the afternoon of the 8th, in the conference hall of Building 1 of the Jinxiu Mountain Guesthouse, General Secretary Xi Jinping's formal talks with General Secretary Kim Jong Un extended more than 20 minutes beyond the scheduled time.

To strengthen top-level planning and strategic guidance, and to advance China–North Korea relations with the times and achieve greater development, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward four points: insist on leading with high-level exchanges to consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust; insist on aiming at benefitting the people to elevate the level of pragmatic cooperation; insist on using the inheritance of friendship as motivation to tighten the bonds of people-to-people connections; and insist on the concept of fairness and justice to enrich the content of strategic coordination.

Three "unchangings" demonstrate China's consistent approach to developing China–North Korea relations: "No matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese Party and government will not change their firm stance of valuing traditional China–DPRK friendship; will not change their steadfast support for Comrade Kim Jong Un's leadership of the DPRK's socialist cause; and will not change their firm determination to safeguard the common interests of both sides and a favorable strategic environment."

"We sincerely thank Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping for the important opinions he put forward on the development of DPRK–China relations in the new era; DPRK departments will join their Chinese counterparts in making every effort to fully implement them," General Secretary Kim Jong Un solemnly stated. "We will, as always, regard developing DPRK–China relations as the country's most important primary strategic undertaking, and do our utmost to build DPRK–China relations into a model of state-to-state relations."

(2)

During General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang, the words “history” and “tradition” were frequently invoked. In his signed article, he recalled the bonds of camaraderie forged in times of great struggle and the comradeship that has sustained the development of the socialist cause; at the welcoming banquet, he paid tribute to the elder generation of revolutionaries from both countries who shared common ideals and convictions.

A heartfelt reflection on history resonated deeply with General Secretary Kim Jong-un: “The special nature of the DPRK–China relationship lies not only in our status as neighboring countries, but also in the profound traditional friendship and shared ideals and convictions that both sides cherish and pass down from generation to generation.”

Neon lights shimmered along the banks of the Taedong River, while the Pyongyang Gymnasium sparkled with dazzling splendor. China’s “Singing to the Motherland” and North Korea’s “Glorious Motherland” intertwined in a stirring symphony. On the evening of the 8th, a specially staged artistic performance marking General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit struck a new chord of friendship.

“Jasmine Flower,” which resonates warmly with China’s distinguished guests; “The Red Flag Flies High,” a tune familiar to the Korean people; “Sino‑Korean Friendship Evergreen Through the Ages,” a tribute to the shared hardships and bonds between the two nations’ military and civilians; and “A New World,” celebrating China’s achievements in the new era—each moving melody underscores the “deep historical roots, solid political foundation, and enduring emotional ties” of the traditional friendship between China and North Korea, vividly demonstrating that “timeless friendship, a shared destiny, and mutual support have always been the defining hallmarks of China–North Korea relations.”

The DPRK National Circus, which presented an aerial acrobatics show for distinguished Chinese guests, visited China last autumn to take part in the Wuqiao International Acrobatic Festival and was awarded the festival’s top honor, the Golden Lion Award.

Cultural exchanges and mutual visits are growing ever closer. From steadily improving bilateral trade volumes to increasingly vibrant border‑area trade zones; from the rising popularity of Chinese language learning and Chinese TV dramas among North Korean youth, to Chinese students embarking on study‑abroad journeys in North Korea—over recent years, China–North Korea relations have been marked by a wealth of noteworthy developments.

During the visit, General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted new progress in practical cooperation, including the full resumption of operations at border ports and the restoration of civil aviation flights and international passenger train services. General Secretary Kim Jong-un remarked with deep appreciation: “Since my meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping in Beijing last September, bilateral relations have flourished across all fields, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.”

The Communist Party of China and the Workers’ Party of Korea are both Marxist ruling parties, both committed to achieving national prosperity and strength and the well-being and happiness of the people.

Looking at China, the Communist Party of China is about to celebrate its 105th anniversary, the 15th Five-Year Plan has gotten off to a strong start, and the Chinese people are striving to usher in a new phase in the endeavor to advance Chinese modernization.

Looking at North Korea, the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea was held successfully, ushering in a new era of all-round socialist development.

“Deepening the exchange and mutual learning of experiences in Party and state governance, and guiding the socialist cause of both countries to advance from one victory to another,” is assuming ever greater significance in the relations between the two Parties and the two countries.

During the visit, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong-un reached an important consensus: “From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, we must grasp the overarching trends of our times, respond to the shared aspirations of the peoples of both countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and affinity between our peoples, and promote the high‑level development of China–DPRK relations, working together to open up an even brighter future for the socialist cause in both countries.”

General Secretary Kim Jong-un expressed his earnest hope: “Strengthening the exchange and mutual learning of experiences through inter‑party channels will provide invaluable support for the development of the DPRK’s socialist cause and help the Korean people, together with the Chinese people, advance along the path of modernization.”

The visit to the Central Party School of the Workers’ Party of Korea was a deeply meaningful arrangement.

The school recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, with its new campus located in the lush Jinxiu Mountain area, which General Secretary Kim Jong-un has visited on multiple occasions. As the Workers’ Party of Korea ushers in a new era of Party building, General Secretary Kim Jong-un has repeatedly expressed to General Secretary Xi Jinping his desire to study and draw on the CPC’s experience in Party building.

The general secretaries of the two parties entered together into the lecture hall of Building No. 3, where more than 300 trainees were studying the section on “Developing Relations with Socialist Countries” in the course “The Foreign Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea.” On the computer screens before them appeared the signed article by General Secretary Xi Jinping, published in the Rodong Sinmun.

General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong-un paused to observe the lesson, occasionally nodding in approval.

With shovels in hand, they piled soil and carried water to irrigate, planting a fir tree on the lawn between the teaching buildings. Beside the tree stood a stone commemorative plaque inscribed in both Chinese and Korean: “Sino‑Korean Friendship Will Endure Forever.”

Teachers and students gathered around the general secretaries of the two parties, and applause echoed throughout the campus for a long time.

(3)

At the foot of Munsu Hill in downtown Pyongyang, amid towering pines and cypresses, a monument to friendship and peace stands majestically. On the morning of the 9th, General Secretary Xi Jinping returned to this site for the second time in seven years to pay his respects at the China–DPRK Friendship Tower.

The blooming flowers set off the solemn inscription: “The immortal achievements you have left behind, and the internationalist friendship forged in blood by the people of our country, shall forever shine upon this land of prosperity and flourishing.”

He slowly ascended the platform, stepped forward to adjust the ribbon on the flower basket, and observed a moment of silence in tribute to the martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, with General Secretary Xi Jinping wearing a solemn expression.

In the Memorial Hall of the Friendship Tower, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inscription from his visit in 2019—“Remember the martyrs, foster friendship for generations”—is displayed prominently. In 2021, General Secretary Kim Jong-un ordered a comprehensive internal renovation and upgrade of the Friendship Tower, and today, its exhibits have been completely refreshed.

General Secretary Kim Jong-un briefed General Secretary Xi Jinping on the three major exhibition areas—“Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aiding Korea to Defend the Motherland,” “Battle‑Bound Friendship Forged in Blood,” and “The Military and Civilian Peoples of Both Countries Who Shared Life and Death and Suffered Together.” Before historical photographs of the Battle of Yunshan, the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and the Battle of Triangle Hill, and before brief profiles of the deeds of 12 “Heroes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” including Peng Dehuai, Yang Gensi, and Qiu Shaoyun, General Secretary Xi Jinping paused for a long time.

A photograph of the renovated Hwachon Chinese People’s Volunteer Army Martyrs’ Cemetery caught the attention of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Inside a Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion with red pillars and green tiles stands a stone monument inscribed with the words “Eternal Glory.” In recent years, thanks to the personal care of General Secretaries Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, numerous volunteer army martyrs’ cemeteries, including Hwachon, have been restored to their former splendor.

During this visit to Pyongyang, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong-un unanimously agreed that both sides should jointly safeguard the memorial facilities honoring the martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, carry out distinctive education on revolutionary traditions and ideological and moral education for young people, ensure that the great spirit of resisting U.S. aggression and aiding Korea is carried forward, and pass down the great traditional friendship between China and the DPRK from generation to generation.

For the motherland, for the people, and for peace, “the most lovable people” upheld national dignity with their bodies and nurtured the flower of peace with their blood. That “war to found the nation,” in which the weak prevailed over the strong, fully demonstrated the Chinese people’s unwavering resolve to safeguard world peace and profoundly shaped the strategic landscape of Asia—and indeed the entire world—after World War II.

In 1961, the elder-generation leaders of China and North Korea signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, laying an important political and legal foundation for consolidating the combat friendship forged in blood between the two peoples and for advancing enduring friendly cooperation between the two countries. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the treaty’s signing, and General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Both sides should solemnly organize commemorative events.”

Both China and the DPRK, as well as their peoples, have emerged from hardship and deeply appreciate the invaluable nature of peace.

On the evening of the 8th, the Mokran Hall in Pyongyang was aglow with dazzling lights as General Secretary Kim Jong-un hosted a welcome banquet for General Secretary Xi Jinping. At the center of the banquet table stood a lifelike sculpture of two soaring doves of peace.

In his address, General Secretary Kim Jong-un stated: “Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit, undertaken amid a rapidly evolving international landscape, will be a momentous event that accelerates the all-round development of the DPRK–China friendship and cooperation in the new era, and makes a major contribution to regional and global peace and security.”

We have come for the friendship between China and North Korea, and also for the peace and prosperity of the region and the world.

General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: “We must follow the trend of the times, strengthen strategic communication and coordination, and jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law. We oppose hegemonism and power politics, and we reject any attempts or actions to revive militarism and undermine regional security and stability.”

General Secretary Kim Jong-un responded with conviction: “The vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping are of profound significance for promoting world peace and development, and have won the support and appreciation of people around the world.” “The DPRK side will unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and firmly support China’s policies and positions in safeguarding its core interests.”

On the afternoon of the 9th, after the rain had cleared. The special plane carrying General Secretary Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, took off from Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang. General Secretary Kim Jong-un and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, joined thousands of Pyongyang residents and children to bid them farewell, waving for a long time.

From above, it is the height of the farming season, with fields awash in fresh green and brimming with vitality. (Xinhua News Agency reporters Hao Weiwei and Yang Yijun; People’s Daily reporters Du Shangze and Hu Zexi)

Editor-in-charge: Xue Xin