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The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has just concluded what has been described as a "surprising" four-day visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The visit is surprising in the sense that it was not announced by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance due to its unofficial nature. However, it shouldn't come as a total surprise, even according to Kim himself, given the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim has said "he felt he should come in time to inform Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping in person the situation out of comradeship and moral responsibility," according to Xinhua.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula has indeed been changing to a positive direction since the beginning of 2018, with the historical handshake between the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Moon Jae-in and Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong, and two upcoming summits for DPRK with the ROK, and its "formal foe" – the United States.
Amid these developments, Kim's first foreign visit to China since taking power in 2011 is of particular significance.
"China gives great support to the development of DPRK and maintains policies for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. As a wise and clever leader, Kim would like to enhance the relationship between China and the DPRK," said Teng Jianqun, director of the Center for Arms Control at the China Institute of International Studies.
"This is an important step taken by Kim himself."
According to the administration of US President Donald Trump, the meeting should be seen "as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary. However, it is undeniable that the tough stance of the US does create a level of distrust and tension between the stakeholders on the issue of denuclearization.
In contrast, China has insisted dialogue and talks are the path to denuclearization, even when the tension on the Korean Peninsula reached its peak last year.
This visit may come as a surprise to some Western media, as speculation became rife that China is "sidelined" in the denuclearization process after Trump and Kim decided to meet. Kim's visit to Beijing signaled that the "traditional China-DPRK friendship", according to Xi, is indeed "passed on continuously and developed better."
More importantly, it emphasizes China's principle of achieving denuclearization through dialogue and negotiations.
"To be frank, China has its own interests in the Korean Peninsula – but not to dominate it. Rather, it intends to maintain its peace and stability, which is a good condition for China's domestic development as well as for the DPRK, ROK, Russia, and other countries concerned," according to Teng.
Teng believes Kim's visit is not abrupt. Rather, it shows continuity in regards to Xi's foreign policy strategy, which is to promote global prosperity and create a win-win condition, which hopefully could provide some insights for the US which has been obsessed with protectionism.
"Chinese President Xi Jinping is trying to have balanced relations with all parties involved – the DPRK and the US. This is an important step for China to continue its foreign policy under the leadership of Xi Jinping," Teng added.
(CGTN)
