A TOP Chinese official arrived in North Korea and held talks on how to boost co-operation, North Korea’s state media reported today.

Zhao Leji, who is chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, arrived in North Korea on Thursday in what Beijing called a trip displaying the “deep friendship” between the two countries.

Mr Zhao met his North Korean counterpart Choe Ryong Hae later on Thursday and discussed how to promote exchanges and co-operation on all areas such as politics, economy and culture, the North’s Korean Central News Agency reported.

Mr Zhao’s visit to North Korea marked the first bilateral exchange involving a Chinese politburo standing committee member since the coronavirus pandemic started.

In 2019, the two countries held two summit meetings between President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Observers say North Korea and China are expected to hold a number of exchanges this year to mark the 75th year since they established diplomatic ties.

North Korea has been seeking to boost co-operation with China and Russia in the face of increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres in the region by the United States and South Korea.