Afghanistan, June 7 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea on Monday for a one-day visit, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years and underscoring Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with its longtime ally.
China's state news agency Xinhua reported that the visit will take place at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and coincides with the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries.
The trip will be Xi's first foreign visit of the year and comes as China seeks to reaffirm its influence in Pyongyang amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia.
Chinese and North Korean officials are expected to discuss bilateral r...