Premier Li Qiang will travel to Pyongyang to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party later this week, according to Beijing, the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since 2019.
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The Chinese foreign ministry said Li would arrive in Pyongyang for a three-day visit on Thursday. A military parade commemorating the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea is expected to take place on Friday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Calling the two countries “friendly neighbours”, the Chinese foreign ministry statement on Tuesday said safeguarding, consolidating and developing relations between China and North Korea had always been Beijing’s policy.
“China views this visit as an opportunity to work with [North Korea], guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries,” the statement said.
“[We] will strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and promote the continuous development of the traditional friendly and cooperative relations.”
Li, China’s No 2 official, would be the most senior Beijing official to attend a North Korean military parade this century. His visit comes amid a warming of ties between the two countries following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to China last month.
