Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang to participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Leading a Chinese government delegation, he reached Pyongyang from Beijing via charter flight on Thursday morning.
At around noon local time on October 9, Premier Li and his delegation landed at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. They were welcomed by Pak Tae-song, member of the Central Political Bureau Standing Committee and Premier of North Korea, along with senior officials from the North Korean party and government. A military band played the national anthems of China and North Korea, and Premier Li received a guard of honor. Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun was also present to greet him.
At the airport, Premier Li remarked that China and North Korea share deep-rooted traditional friendship. In recent years, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, relations between the two countries have gained new momentum. China is committed to strengthening strategic communication, maintaining close investment ties, promoting friendly cooperation, and implementing important consensus achieved by the political parties and top leaders of both countries.
Also on the same flight was Wu Chenglong, member and secretary-general of the National People’s Congress of China, who accompanied Premier Li to Pyongyang.
Source: Anupama-Alim-Cai, China Media Group.