Xi pens friendship letter to N Korea before rare visit

Beijing: Xi Jinping will burnish China’s fragile alliance with North Korea by making his first trip to Pyongyang as president this week – and on Wednesday he sealed their friendship in ink, offering a “grand plan” for regional stability.
Xi, who will be the first Chinese president to visit Pyongyang in 14 years, penned a rare front-page opinion piece in North Korea’s official newspaper, touting their “irreplaceable” bond on the eve of this two-day trip.
Xi is visiting the country on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as both men face their own protracted negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
With his visit, Xi can show that China still has some influence on its Cold War-era ally and play a role in efforts to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. (AFP)