Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang left Beijing on October 23 to pay an official goodwill visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was invited by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government. Li will also pay an official visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) as a guest of the ROK government.

His entourage includes You Quan, deputy secretary-general of the State Council, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, Chen Yuan, chairman of the board of directors of China Development Bank, Liu Jieyi, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Liu Tienan, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, Chen Jian, deputy minister of commerce and Ning Jizhe, deputy director of the Research Office of the State Council.