President Xi ends two day tour of Pyongyang

World Today

This June 20, 2019 picture released by The DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 21, 2019 shows DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (R) shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival at Pyongyang international airport in Pyongyang. DPRK leader Kim Jong Un held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang June 20 during a historic visit to burnish an uneasy alliance, as the two men each face challenges of their own with US President Donald Trump. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

China’s President Xi Jinping has wrapped-up his state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

He and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un discussed steps to revive Pyongyang’s stalled nuclear talks with Washington, as well as deeper cross-border cooperation on issues from trade to security.

CGTN’s Jack Barton reports on the highlights of the two day visit.

It was a visit that never lacked for pomp and ceremony.

After being welcomed by thousands of Pyongyang residents and reviewing an honor guard China’s President Xi Jinping becoming the first ever leader invited to a formal event at the mausoleum for the remains of D.P.R.K.’s former leaders Kim Jong-Un’s father and grandfather.

State media hailed very step of the two-day visit as a strengthening of ties. The talks coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.

“In the news released by China, it has been made clear that during the talks between President Xi and Chairman Kim, the two leaders have clearly defined the key fields in the future development of China-DPRK ties, including maintaining close exchanges and high-level exchanges, strengthening strategic communication, and deepening pragmatic cooperation. They also mentioned some specific fields, such as the two countries’ economic construction and development. They also agreed to increase sharing of governance experience and deepen friendly exchanges. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-DPRK diplomatic relations. Both sides have said that they would hold grand celebrations for this year’s event,” said Lu Kang the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The talks came one week before Xi Jinping meets with other world leaders at the G20 summit in Osaka.

Kim Jong Un’s statement that he is ready for another meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump has raised expectations of a potential breakthrough in the long stalled nuclear talks.

“There might be some agreement that has not yet been revealed and I think Xi Jinping will talk with Trump in Osaka about these kinds of issues,” said Kim Hyun-wook a professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy.

The visit marked the first by Xi Jinping since taking office, and the first by a Chinese leader in 14 years.

Before departing on Friday Xi attended a series of events, including a military parade and a choreographed performance in the presence of 110,000 people.


Dorothy Parvaz discusses China-DPRK relations

CGTN’s Roee Ruttenberg spoke with Dorothy Parvaz, Global Politics Reporter at ThinkProgress, discusses China-DPRK relations.