Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on his first official visit since 2019, where he was warmly received by leader Kim Jong Un.

The visit comes after Xi’s recent meetings with leaders including Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and is seen as part of China’s effort to strengthen influence over its neighbor.

Key topics expected for discussion include denuclearisation, US relations, and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Xi described China–North Korea relations as entering a “new historical starting point,” highlighting closer cooperation between the two countries, the BBC has reported.

The trip also reflects shifting regional alliances, with North Korea increasingly aligning itself with Russia in recent years.