SHANGHAI: Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jon-Un to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of North Korea´s founding, Singapore´s Straits Times newspaper reported. It will be the Chinese leader´s first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012, and 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese President, when Xi´s predecessor Hu Jintao visited in 2005, the newspaper said on Saturday. The Straits Times did not say where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. North Korea´s celebrations are set to take place on Sept. 9 and the Straits Times said that Xi´s visit could still be subject to last-minute changes. China is the reclusive country´s most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year. </s> Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Pyongyang next month as ties between China and its close neighbour North Korea improve, The reported on Saturday.

The reported last month that North Korea had invited Xi to Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country’s founding on September 9.

The Singapore-based newspaper’s report, which did not cite a source, also said that Xi would attend at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

If confirmed, the visit will be the first by a top Chinese leader to North Korea since his predecessor Hu Jintao’s trip in 2005.

Kim has already visited China three times this year. </s> Chinese President Xi Jinping was greeted by cheering crowds as he arrived in Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In footage broadcast on Chinese television, the two leaders were seen being driven through the North Korean capital.

It is the first Chinese state visit to North Korea since 2005. </s> (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month as ties between the two countries improve amid mounting U.S.-China trade tensions, The Straits Times reported, without citing anyone.

Xi has been invited by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country’s founding on Sept. 9, the paper said. The visit would be the first by the Chinese leader to the North Korean capital since Xi took power in 2012, it said.

North Korea also asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit for the celebrations during high-level talks earlier this month, Asahi Shimbun has reported, citing people familiar with inter-Korean relations.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jungah Lee in Seoul at jlee1361@bloomberg.net;Jihye Lee in Seoul at jlee2352@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stanley James at sjames8@bloomberg.net, James Poole </s> Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for first visit since taking office in 2013. </s> Reportedly Xi, at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, will attend celebrations of 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding.

Kim has visited China thrice this year and held talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and for economic reforms. (Photo: AFP)

Shanghai: Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported.

It will be the Chinese leader's first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012, and 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese President, when Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao visited in 2005, the newspaper said on Saturday.

The Straits Times did not say where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

North Korea's celebrations are set to take place on September 9 and the Straits Times said that Xi's visit could still be subject to last-minute changes.

China is the reclusive country's most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year during which he has held talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and economic reforms.

The United States has stepped up sanctions on North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for exporting alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea in breach of those sanctions. </s> China's President Xi Jinping looks on during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 26, 2018. Gulshan Khan/Pool via REUTERS

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper reported.

It will be the Chinese leader’s first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012, and 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese President, when Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao visited in 2005, the newspaper said on Saturday.

The Straits Times did not say where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

North Korea’s celebrations are set to take place on Sept. 9 and the Straits Times said that Xi’s visit could still be subject to last-minute changes.

China is the reclusive country’s most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year during which he has held talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and economic reforms.

The United States has stepped up sanctions on North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for exporting alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea in breach of those sanctions. </s> Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for first visit since taking office in 2013

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for first visit since taking office in 2013. </s> Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has departed for his state visit to North Korea.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pyongyang to attend the celebration of the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding.