We begin in South Korea, where Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Yang Jiechi is continuing his visit. Yang is set to brief South Korean President Moon Jae-in later Friday about DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's recent visit to China. During his meeting with Moon's National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong on Thursday, Yang said Kim's visit will help ease tensions.

YANG JIECHI PRESIDENT XI JINPING'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE "We believe Kim's visit will help the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ensure peace and security, and solve problems regarding the Korean Peninsula through political negotiations and discussions."

Yang told Chung that China hopes everything goes well for the upcoming inter-Korean summit and the DPRK-US summit. The Chinese envoy said his country stands ready to work with South Korea to further de-escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. For his part, Chung spoke positively of the meeting between Xi and Kim. He thanked China for helping bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Yang is also set to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha before returning to China later today. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.