Xi's North Korea visit aims to show China remains vital ally

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea marks his first foreign trip of the year, signaling Beijing's intent to bolster ties and support Pyongyang's economic revival. The carefully timed diplomatic engagement underscores China's increasing confidence on the world stage and its capacity to interact directly with various global powers.

This trip comes less than a month after Xi hosted simultaneous meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. Analysts suggest that while the meetings with Trump and Putin showcased China's growing global standing relative to these major powers, the North Korea visit focuses on reaffirming bilateral relations and managing potential risks.

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While hosting Trump and Putin in Beijing reflects China’s growing confidence in its global standing vis-a-vis two other great powers, the trip to North Korea focuses on both reaffirming bilateral ties and managing risks.

China views renewed economic engagement as crucial for reasserting its influence over North Korea, particularly as Pyongyang deepens its ties with Moscow. Despite international sanctions, China remains an indispensable economic partner for North Korea, accounting for over 90% of its legal trade. Beijing also provides essential supplies such as fertilizer, food aid, and consumer goods, highlighting its critical role in sustaining the North Korean economy.

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China is still indispensable to the North’s sanctions-ridden economy, accounting for over 90 per cent of its total legal trade and providing fertiliser, food aid and consumer goods.