Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday arrived in Pyongyang for a state visit at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Kim greeted Hu at Sunan Airport along with the head of the North's parliament Kim Young-nam, Premier Pak Pong-ju, People's Armed Forces Minister Kim Il-chol and Workers' Party secretary Kim Ki-nam.

The Chinese leader's entourage is known to comprise Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the Chinese Communist Party's international relations chief Wang Jiarui and high-ranking parliamentarian Wang Gang.

To stay through Sunday, Hu will hold talks with Kim Jong-il on the fifth round of the six-party nuclear talks, economic cooperation and regional security.

Hu is the first Chinese leader to visit the North since his predecessor Jiang Zemin did so in September 2001.