Wang Huning, China's No. 4 leader, to visit North Korea July 15–17

A Chinese party and government delegation led by Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the country's fourth-ranked official, will visit North Korea from Wednesday through Friday. The visit follows North Korean Prime Minister Pak Thae-song's official trip to China from July 10 to 12 to mark the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

KCNA reported Tuesday that the delegation, led by Wang — described as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference — would make "an official friendship visit" to North Korea from Wednesday through Friday at the invitation of the Korean Workers' Party Central Committee and the government. No details were given on the specific itinerary or purpose of the visit.

During the Beijing trip, the North Korean party and government delegation led by Pak met in succession with China's top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji and Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi — officials ranked first through third and fifth in China's leadership hierarchy.

Last month, Xi made his first visit to North Korea in seven years, holding a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss the direction of bilateral relations.

The rapid succession of high-level exchanges — Xi's visit to Pyongyang, followed by Pak's trip to Beijing and now Wang's return visit to Pyongyang — is seen as a concerted effort by both countries to highlight their traditional friendship and strengthen strategic communication, using the 65th anniversary of the bilateral treaty as a backdrop.