Xi's North Korea Visit - Three Gorges New Waterway Project - Wang Yi on Dialogue among Civilizations
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, June 09, 2026.
Pages 1 & 2: The entire front page today is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang. This is Xi’s first visit to the country in seven years, and his first international visit in 2026. He’s played host for basically the entire first half of the year. It’s noteworthy that Cai Qi traveled with Xi for this visit, along with Wang Yi.
If you are interested in a report on the welcome ceremony that Xi received, you can check out the CGTN report below.
The main report (related English report) in the paper says:
“Xi Jinping emphasised that China and the DPRK are both socialist countries led by communist parties. The traditional friendship between China and the DPRK is rooted in the common ideals, convictions, and goals of struggle of both sides; it possesses deep historical accumulation, a solid political foundation, and firm emotional bonds. Friendship passed down from generation to generation, a shared future and mutual support have always been the defining features of China-DPRK relations. No matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese party and government’s firm stance on highly valuing China-DPRK traditional friendship will not change, the firm support for General Secretary Kim in leading the DPRK’s socialist cause will not change, and the firm commitment to safeguarding the shared interests of the two countries and preserving a favourable strategic environment will not change.” 习近平强调，中朝两国同为共产党领导的社会主义国家。中朝传统友谊植根于双方共同的理想信念和奋斗目标，有深厚历史积淀、坚实政治基础、牢固情感纽带，世代友好、命运与共、守望相助始终是中朝关系的鲜明特征。无论国际形势如何变化，中国党和政府高度重视中朝传统友好的坚定立场不会改变，对金正恩总书记同志领导朝鲜社会主义事业的坚定支持不会改变，维护中朝双方共同利益和良好战略环境的坚定决心不会改变.
“Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of the profound changes unseen in a century that are accelerating across the world, the two sides should take a broad and long-term view, build on past achievements and open up a new future, draw wisdom from the development process of the relations between the two parties and the two countries, seize opportunities in the prevailing trend of human history, inject new contemporary connotations and strong impetus into the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, and open up a brighter prospect for the socialist cause of the two countries as well as regional peace and development.” 习近平指出，面对加速演进的世界百年变局，双方要登高望远、继往开来，从两党两国关系发展历程中汲取智慧，在人类历史发展大势中把握机遇，为中朝传统友谊注入新的时代内涵和强劲动力，开辟两国社会主义事业和地区和平与发展更加美好的前景.
He then put forward four points on ties:
First, adhere to taking high-level exchanges as the guide and consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust. Strategic guidance by the highest leaders is the greatest advantage of China–DPRK relations. I am willing to maintain close strategic communication with Comrade General Secretary and guide China–DPRK relations to continuously reach new heights. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance; both sides should hold commemorative activities in a grand manner. Relations between the two parties play an important guiding role in the development of China–DPRK relations. It is necessary to further expand and invigorate friendly exchanges between the two parties at all levels and in all fields, and deepen exchanges and mutual learning regarding experience in governing the Party and governing the country. Both sides should strengthen exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement, the military, and other areas, implement well the important consensus reached between Comrade General Secretary and me, and pool wisdom and strength for the development of China–DPRK relations. 第一，坚持以高层交往为引领，夯实政治互信根基。最高领导人战略引领是中朝关系的最大优势。我愿同总书记同志保持密切战略沟通，引领中朝关系不断迈向新高度。今年是《中朝友好合作互助条约》签订65周年，双方要隆重举办纪念活动。两党关系对中朝关系发展发挥重要引领作用，要进一步拓展和活跃两党各层级各领域友好交往，深化治党治国经验交流互鉴。双方要加强外交、执法、军队等交流，落实好我和总书记同志达成的重要共识，为中朝关系发展汇聚智慧和力量.
Second, adhere to taking the goal of benefiting the people as the objective and raise the level of practical cooperation. The Chinese side is willing to work with the DPRK side to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand practical cooperation in trade and economics, agriculture, construction, science and technology, medical and health care, and other areas, and better benefit the peoples of the two countries. Both sides should take the opportunity of the full reopening of border ports and the resumption of civil aviation flights and international passenger trains to expand personnel exchanges and achieve two-way movement. 第二，坚持以为民造福为目标，提升务实合作水平。中方愿同朝方加强发展战略对接，扩大经贸、农业、建筑、科技、医疗卫生等务实合作，更好造福两国人民。双方要以边境口岸全面复通、民航航班和国际客运列车恢复运营为契机，扩大人员往来，实现双向奔赴.
Third, adhere to taking the inheritance of friendship as the driving force and draw tighter the bond of people-to-people connectivity. The traditional friendship forged with blood between China and the DPRK is a precious common wealth of the peoples of the two countries. The Chinese side is willing to work together with the DPRK side to jointly safeguard and administer well the memorial facilities for martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in the DPRK, carry out distinctive education on revolutionary traditions and ideological education for youth, and pass on the red genes and traditional friendship of the two countries. The Chinese side is willing to work with the DPRK side to make good use of the advantageous resources of each side and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, literature and art, tourism, sports, media, youth, local government, sister cities, and other areas, so as to let the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK take deeper root in the hearts of the people. 第三，坚持以友谊传承为动力，拉紧民心相通纽带。中朝用鲜血凝成的传统友谊是两国人民共同的宝贵财富。中方愿同朝方一道，共同维护好、管理好在朝志愿军烈士纪念设施，开展富有特色的革命传统教育、青少年思想教育，传承好两国红色基因和传统友谊。中方愿同朝方用好各自优势资源，加强教育、文艺、旅游、体育、媒体、青年、地方、友城等交流合作，让中朝传统友谊更加深入人心.
Fourth, adhere to taking the concept of fairness and justice as the guiding principle and enrich the content of strategic coordination.Facing the major question of where humanity is heading, I have put forward the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives, hoping to promote the development of global governance in a more just and reasonable direction, which has received broad support and positive responses from the international community including the DPRK side. Asia is the place on which regional countries such as China and the DPRK depend for their existence and livelihood. China and the DPRK should strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation, resolutely defend their respective sovereignty, security, and development interests, and jointly safeguard regional peace and development. 第四，坚持以公平正义为理念，丰富战略协作内涵。面对人类向何处去这一重大课题，我提出构建人类命运共同体理念和四大全球倡议，希望推动全球治理朝着更加公正合理的方向发展，得到包括朝方在内的国际社会广泛支持和积极响应。亚洲是中朝等地区国家的安身立命之所。中朝两国应加强战略协调和配合，坚定捍卫各自主权、安全、发展利益，共同维护地区和平与发展.
As per the report, among other things, Kim said:
“He stressed that consolidating and developing the DPRK-China friendship in the new era is the choice of the peoples of the two countries and a necessity of the times, and remains the DPRK’s consistent strategic choice and steadfast strategic resolve. He said the DPRK will, as always, regard the development of DPRK-China relations as the foremost strategic undertaking of the state, spare no effort to build bilateral relations into a model of interstate relations, and work together with China to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.”
Also on the page is a report (English report) on Xi and Kim’s remarks at the welcome banquet. In addition, on Page 1, the full text of Xi’s article in the North Korean press has been reproduced.
The coverage of the visit spans across all of Page 2 also. For instance, there’s a report on Rodong Sinmun publishing an article welcoming Xi. In the coverage, there are references to countering hegemonism and promoting multipolarity. But nowhere is there any reference to the nuclear issue. Pyongyang did some clear signalling of its own in the days leading up to Xi’s visit. Kim visited “a new facility to produce nuclear bomb fuels” as per AP, and then his sister reportedly said that the country’s “status as a nuclear power is absolutely nonnegotiable.”
Finally, on Page 2, there’s a report announcing that the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance Forum will be held in Beijing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the forum is expected to bring together more than 400 participants from nearly 100 countries, as well as the United Nations and other international and regional organizations.
Page 3: There’s a report on Ding Xuexiang attending the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Three Gorges new waterway project in Yichang, Hubei Province.
As per Xinhua, this is expected to become the world’s largest inland ship lock. “The 77.2-billion-yuan ($11.3 billion) project will add a five-tier, dual-track ship lock north of the existing lock at the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest water conservancy project, and upgrade navigation facilities at a smaller downstream dam. Once completed, it will almost double the annual throughput capacity at the Three Gorges to 336 million tonnes.”
Also on the page is a report (full readout) on Wang Yi’s remarks at an event marking the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Wang said that the Chinese side advocates promoting dialogue among civilizations from four aspects.
First, persist in mutual respect and promote the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations. It is necessary to uphold a civilizational outlook of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, transcend the narrow theories of ‘civilizational superiority’ and ‘clash of civilizations’, commit to the harmonious coexistence and mutual achievement of diverse civilizations, and promote the joint building of a world garden of civilizations where each is beautiful in its own way and all beauties are shared together.
Second, persist in a people-centered approach and deepen the roots of civilizational exchange. It is necessary to promote mutual understanding and affinity among the peoples of all countries, and drive the fruits of civilizational exchange and mutual learning to benefit the people more broadly and more directly. China persists in high-level opening up and continuously introduces facilitation measures such as visa-free entry, and is willing to strengthen civilizational dialogue with all countries, deepen exchanges of experience in state governance, jointly crack the difficult problems of the era, and work together to broaden the path of world modernization.
Third, persist in inheritance and innovation and strengthen the driving force of civilizational progress. As a major country of world heritage, China will strive to do well in the protection and utilization of its own cultural heritage, while also helping the outstanding traditional cultures of all countries achieve creative transformation and innovative development. We must fully mine the technological dividends of AI, social media, and other technologies, empower civilizational exchange and mutual learning as well as inheritance and innovation, and promote the common prosperity of human civilization.
Fourth, persist in exchange and mutual learning and improve the mechanisms of civilizational dialogue. Actively expand the global partners of civilizational dialogue, and taking the joint celebration of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations as an opportunity, build communication platforms that transcend ideological bias. The Chinese side supports further making good use of platforms such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, and the Forum of Ancient Civilizations, to play an important role in civilizational dialogue.
王毅说，当前，人类文明发展面临空前挑战，分裂对抗不断加剧，动荡冲突此起彼伏，国际法治遭受侵蚀，信任赤字日益加深。我们要以对话增进理解、培植互信，以交流促进团结、谋求共识，不断夯实构建人类命运共同体的人文基础。中方主张从四方面促进文明对话。一是坚持相互尊重，推动不同文明和谐相处。要坚持平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，超越狭隘的“文明优越论”“文明冲突论”，致力多元文明和谐共处、相互成就，推动共建各美其美、美美与共的世界文明百花园。二是坚持以人为本，厚植文明交流根基。促进各国人民相知相亲，推动文明交流互鉴成果更广泛、更直接惠及人民。中国坚持高水平对外开放，持续出台免签等便利化措施，愿与各国加强文明对话，深化治国理政经验交流，共同破解时代难题，携手拓宽世界现代化道路。三是坚持传承创新，增强文明进步动力。作为世界遗产大国，中国将努力做好本国文化遗产保护和利用，同时助力各国优秀传统文化实现创造性转化、创新性发展。要充分挖掘人工智能、社交媒体等技术红利，赋能文明交流互鉴和传承创新，促进人类文明共同繁荣。四是坚持交流互鉴，完善文明对话机制。积极扩展文明对话全球伙伴，以共同庆祝“文明对话国际日”为契机，打造超越意识形态偏见的沟通平台。中方支持进一步用好联合国文明联盟、联合国教科文组织、文明古国论坛等平台，为文明对话发挥重要作用.
Finally, after visiting Russia, Vice President Han Zheng traveled to Belarus, where he met with President Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister Alexander Turchin and First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov. Xinhua’s English report covers the exchanges briefly.
Page 11: There are two reports of officials being taken down in the anti-corruption campaign. First, Chen Weijun, former vice-chairman of Xinjiang’s government, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office. Chen was placed under investigation in November 2025.
As per China Daily’s report report:
“Investigators found that Chen obstructed inspections, violated regulations by accepting banquet invitations and sought benefits for others in personnel appointments and promotions. He was also found to have condoned and acquiesced in his family members using his official influence for personal gain, illegally accepted gifts, money and shopping cards, improperly borrowed money from individuals and entities under his supervision or service, and engaged in profit-making activities in violation of regulations. In addition, Chen was found to have engaged extensively in power-for-money transactions, using his positions to seek benefits for others in areas including project land use, tax reductions and project contracting in exchange for large sums of money and valuables.
PD’s report summarises it as Chen “violated the Party’s political discipline, organizational discipline, integrity discipline, and life discipline”.
Chen’s criminal case has been transferred to prosecutors for further review, and the assets involved have been handed over, as per the report.
Also expelled from the Party is Pan Liang, a former ministerial-level official at the SASAC. China Daily reports:
“Investigators found that Pan engaged in superstitious practices, obstructed inspections, and violated regulations by accepting banquet invitations, playing golf, participating in entertainment activities and receiving gifts. The commissions also said he sought benefits for others in job adjustments, illegally held shares in non-listed companies, and abused his power to benefit family members. He was heavily involved in transactions exchanging money for favors or sexual services. In addition, investigators said he interfered in market activities and, after retirement, used his former positions to accept large sums of money in exchange for providing benefits to others in matters including business operations, project contracting and equity acquisition.”
People’s Daily’s report says that Pan “violated the Party’s political discipline, organizational discipline, integrity discipline, work discipline, and life discipline.” The report adds that Pan’s “criminal case has been transferred to prosecutors for further review, and related assets have been handed over.”