Chinese Foreign Minister to Visit North Korea
Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea on 9-10 April 2026 at the invitation of Pyongyang.
“The upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi is an important step for the two countries to act on the common understanding reached between the supreme leaders of the two parties and the two countries and to advance the development of China-DPRK relations,” said Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning during a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
China and North Korea, according to Mao Ning, are traditional friends and neighbours connected by mountains and rivers.
“It is a steadfast strategic policy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government to maintain, consolidate, and develop China-DPRK relations,” Mao Ning added.
Mao Ning stated that China is ready to work with North Korea to enhance strategic communication, increase exchanges and cooperation, and further advance the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The visit marks Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s first trip to North Korea since September 2019 and is expected to include meetings with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.
The two last held talks in Beijing in September 2025.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also likely to pay a courtesy call on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The visit comes after China’s national carrier, Air China, resumed the Beijing-Pyongyang flight route on 30 March 2026, following its last operation during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
North Korea’s airline, Air Koryo, resumed flights between the two capitals in 2023 with twice-weekly services on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
North Korea is known to have banned all foreign tourists during the pandemic but has begun easing restrictions, including for some Russian tour groups starting in 2024 with limited arrangements.
Before Air China, China also reactivated the Beijing-Pyongyang passenger train service on 12 March 2026 after a six-year suspension.
The China Railway company’s account “China Railay” announced that starting from 12 March 2026, international passenger trains will resume two-way operations between Beijing and Dandong in China and Pyongyang in North Korea.
The resumption of this route is intended to further promote personnel exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges between the two countries, while enhancing the well-being and friendship between the peoples of the two nations.
The train with series number K27/K28 operates every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
In China, passengers can board or alight at Beijing Station, Tianjin Station, Shanhaiguan Station, Shenyang Station, and Dandong Station, while in North Korea, stops are available at Pyongyang Station and Sinuiju Station.
Border crossing procedures are conducted at the Dandong border post in China and Sinuiju in North Korea.
Currently, tickets for the China-DPRK international passenger train are already on sale offline at five international ticket sales points in China, namely Beijing Station, Tianjin, Shanhaiguan, Shenyang, and Dandong.
The available classes for the Beijing-Pyongyang train are “hard sleeper” and “soft sleeper” with ticket prices exceeding 1,000 RMB (approximately Rp2.4 million) for a one-way trip.