Gun salutes, a brass band, acrobatic performances and a freshly watered friendship tree. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has concluded. Concrete agreements were not made, but the two leaders promised to work on closer ties.

For the first time in seven years, the Chinese leader traveled to North Korea. With the visit, China wanted to make it clear that, despite the growing role of Russia and the return of US President Trump to the world stage, China still remains the central player in East Asia.

On his first foreign trip of the year, the Chinese leader spoke at the start of a “new historical turning point”.

The two want to expand political, cultural and economic cooperation, according to a statement released via North Korea’s state news agency KCNA. China, in turn, emphasizes that ties are being strengthened at the diplomatic and military level in order to “make a positive contribution to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world”, writes the Chinese state news agency Xinhua(opens in new window). There should also be more trains and flights between the countries.

While Beijing and Pyongyang have always been important trading partners, since the outbreak of the Russian war against Ukraine, China is no longer Kim’s only option. Kim Jong-un expressed his unconditional support for President Putin. North Korea supplies weapons and men and receives fuel and weapons technology in return. Much to the dismay of neighboring China.

Kim further emphasized that he supports the ‘One China Policy’, which means Taiwan should be part of China. Xi sees Taiwan as a renegade province and does not rule out using force to annex the island.

To end the whole visit, Xi and his wife went to the China-North Korea Friendship Tower. Flowers have been laid there for Chinese soldiers who died during the Korean War, Chinese state media report.

The Chinese president also visited the party school of the North Korean Workers’ Party. There he planted a fir together with Kim. “The fir tree remains green all year round and symbolizes the enduring and ever-renewing friendship between China and North Korea,” writes the Chinese state news agency Xinhua(opens in new window).