Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un prior to their summit talks in Pyongyang, June 20, 2019, in this image released by Korean Cental News Agency. Yonhap
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Monday for a two-day state visit, his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years, as Beijing looks to reinforce ties with its traditional ally that has increasingly been growing intimate with Russia.
Xi departed for Pyongyang earlier in the day at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Chian's Xinhua News Agency reported. He was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, director of the general office of the Communist Party's central committee, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Talks between Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could follow later in the day and are widely expected to cover economic ties and Korean Peninsula issues, as well as ways to coordinate among Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow.
Across Pyongyang, portraits of Xi and flags of both nations lined the streets in preparation for the visit, according to Chinese media reports. Banners in Korean and Chinese celebrating the two countries' traditional friendship were also on display throughout the capital.
