Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday, kicking off a three-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the first by a Chinese premier in 16 years.

Li, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was warmly welcomed and met by a guard of honor after his arrival at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

Pak Thae-song, premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK and presidium member of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, held a welcoming ceremony for Li.

Leading a Party and government delegation, Li is set to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Workers' Party of Korea and make an official goodwill visit to the DPRK.

The visit comes amid heightened high-level exchanges between the two countries, and Premier Li is the most senior Chinese official to visit the neighboring country since 2019.

Upon arrival, Li said that China and the DPRK, as socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, enjoy a profound traditional friendship.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance and personal efforts of the top leaders of the two countries, China-DPRK relations have been brimming with new dynamism and vitality, he added.

Last month, Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, came to China to attend the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, held a meeting with Kim, and they reached consensus on a series of important points, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations.

Li said that China is ready to follow through on the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, strengthen strategic communication, maintain close exchanges and push for friendly cooperation between the two nations, in order to make greater contributions to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.

Also on Thursday, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended a reception in Beijing celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. The reception was hosted by the DPRK embassy in China.

Customs statistics showed that in 2024, the volume of bilateral trade in goods reached $2.18 billion. China remained the biggest trading partner of the DPRK.

The two countries have maintained exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including culture, education, science and technology, and sports. They have signed a number of cooperation agreements in areas such as trade and navigation, air transportation and consular affairs.