Pyongyang: Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years. This visit underscores Beijing's effort to reinforce its alliance with North Korea amid the latter's growing closeness with Russia.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Xi's arrival on Monday was at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Xi was accompanied by a delegation including his wife, Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, director of the general office of the Communist Party's central committee, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During this visit, Xi is expected to engage in discussions with Kim Jong-un, focusing on economic collaborations and issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, alongside exploring coordination strategies between Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow.

In preparation for Xi's visit, Pyongyang's streets were adorned with portraits of Xi and flags of both nations. Banners celebrating the traditional friendship between China and North Korea were prominently displayed, as reported by Chinese media. Additionally, Xinhua News Agency highlighted the arrival of a group of reporters traveling from Dandong, China, to Pyongyang via a train service that resumed earlier this year.

This visit by Xi Jinping comes at a symbolic time, as it coincides with the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea. This anniversary presents an opportunity for both nations to reaffirm their alliance and deepen economic ties amid strengthening relations between Pyongyang and Moscow. Notably, North Korean troops recently participated in Moscow's Victory Day parade, marking a first in the country's military engagement with Russia.

However, North Korea has maintained a firm military stance ahead of Xi's visit. Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-Jong, recently declared the nation's nuclear status as irreversible. In recent developments, Kim Jong-un inspected a new nuclear materials production facility and emphasized the expansion of North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

For China, Xi's visit aims to reaffirm its influence over the Korean Peninsula. It follows his recent summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, as well as his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. Xi's visit to Pyongyang is anticipated to provide a clearer understanding of the major powers' positions on Korean Peninsula affairs, potentially leading to a revival of stalled diplomatic efforts involving Pyongyang, Washington, and Seoul.