(MENAFN) Chinese Premier Li Qiang will travel to North Korea this week to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), both governments announced Tuesday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Li will lead a high-level Chinese delegation to participate in the celebrations and is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other senior officials.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Li’s official goodwill visit will take place October 9–11. A statement said the premier — who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee — will attend anniversary events and meet North Korean leaders to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.

The visit underscores the deep and longstanding ties between Beijing and Pyongyang. Li will be the highest-ranking Chinese official to attend such celebrations since 2015, highlighting China’s continued support for its neighbor amid heightened regional tensions.

The trip follows Kim Jong Un’s visit to Beijing last month for China’s Victory Day celebrations, marking his first participation in a multilateral event since coming to power in December 2011.

In addition to the Chinese delegation, Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam is also expected to arrive in Pyongyang to take part in the anniversary commemorations, reflecting broader solidarity among socialist and communist-led states in Asia.

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