Xi Jinping to make rare visit to North Korea, first since 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping is to visit North Korea on 8-9 June, the BBC reports. The trip is a rare high-level contact with the isolated regime that is a longstanding ally of Beijing.
BBC AsiaChinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on 8 and 9 June, BBC Asia reports. The trip will be Xi's first visit to the country since 2019, signalling a renewed push for high-level contacts between the two governments.
The Beijing-Pyongyang alliance has economic and military roots reaching back to the Cold War. Against a backdrop of growing US sanctions files and friction over Taiwan, China is looking to consolidate its East Asia footprint. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's increased outreach to Russia in recent months has also given Beijing more to watch.
Diplomatic observers say the agenda could include cross-border trade, sanctions-related financial channels and possible longer-term energy-deal frameworks. Tokyo and Seoul will follow the visit closely, while a measured reaction is expected from Washington.
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