Chinese Premier Li Qiang promised closer cooperation with North Korea as he began a three-day visit to the country on Thursday following a recent flurry of diplomatic exchanges that signalled a thaw in relations.
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Li is the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since 2019. During his visit he will attend a series of events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party.
Li said Beijing was ready to work with Pyongyang to “strengthen strategic communication, maintain close exchanges and advance friendly cooperation to make greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity”, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.
Li was welcomed on arrival in Pyongyang by his counterpart, Pak Thae-song, and a delegation of senior officials, Xinhua said.
The visit is expected to coincide with a military parade on Friday commemorating the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
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Relations between the two countries have continued to warm following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to China last month, where he attended a military parade to mark the end of World War II and held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
On Thursday, the Chinese premier said the two leaders had “charted the course” for the future relationship between the two countries.