According to an official announcement by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping will start a two-day state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday. This comes at the invitation of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. This is the first state visit by a Chinese leader to the DPRK in 14 years. It also comes as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic ties. During the trip, Xi is scheduled to hold talks with Kim and visit a monument commemorating the two countries' friendship.

China Institute of International Studies Professor Teng Jianqun said bilateral relations between China and the DPRK are on a positive track after several visits by Kim. And Xi's upcoming visit will be a driving force to maintain the momentum between the two sides in every aspect.

Teng said economic cooperation may top the agenda during the two-day visit, as the Workers' Party of Korea last year adopted a new strategic guideline for the country to improve social life and develop its economy. During Kim's four visits to China last year, Teng believes the two leaders had a good interaction regarding economic cooperation. 

However, Teng said there are obstacles, such as the UN sanctions against the DPRK. The two leaders will focus on economic issues, but China will abide by international efforts to end the preparation of nuclear technology on the Korean Peninsula. Despite being a sensitive topic, Teng said Xi and Kim will discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during the visit because it will be a very important step toward the DPRK normalizing relations with other countries, such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and the U.S., as well as providing a good environment for domestic opening-up and reform.

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