WEB DESK: Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to North Korea from June 8 to 9, Chinese state media reported on Friday, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years as Beijing seeks to reinforce its influence over its long-time ally.

The announcement by China’s state-run news agency came as Beijing intensifies diplomatic engagement in the region following separate summits hosted by Xi last month with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to North Korean state media, leader Kim Jong Un extended the invitation for the Chinese president’s visit.

Kim himself travelled to Beijing in September last year, where he attended a major military parade and arrived aboard his signature armoured train.

Beijing has been working to revitalise ties with Pyongyang after the Covid-19 pandemic significantly reduced exchanges between the two countries.

Relations between the neighbours also cooled as North Korea strengthened military and strategic cooperation with Russia, including support for Moscow during the conflict in Ukraine.

Transport links between the two countries have gradually resumed, with passenger train services between Beijing and Pyongyang restarting in March after a six-year suspension. Air China has also resumed flights, although travel remains largely limited to business visitors and exchange students, while Chinese tourists are still not permitted to visit North Korea.

The upcoming visit will be Xi’s first overseas trip of the year. The Chinese president has reduced his international travel schedule in recent years, with his last foreign visit taking place in South Korea in October.

Since assuming office in 2012, Xi has visited North Korea once and South Korea twice. Before becoming president, he also travelled to Pyongyang in 2008 while serving as China’s vice president during the leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Analysts say the visit carries considerable diplomatic significance and reflects Beijing’s intention to reaffirm its central role in Korean Peninsula affairs.

The visit also comes at a time of heightened attention on North Korea’s nuclear programme. Earlier this week, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Un had inspected a new nuclear material production facility and called for an “exponential” expansion of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Observers believe the latest developments may be part of broader diplomatic signalling ahead of high-level regional engagements.