Given international sanctions against the DPRK, some experts have suggested that China's hands are tied and President Xi Jinping's ongoing visit might be more about seeking Chinese leverage in trade talks with the United States. Wang Chong, deputy secretary-general and senior researcher at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental think tank on diplomacy and international relations, objects such claims and says Xi’s state visit and China-U.S. trade talks are two different issues.