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China is important for North Korea. Why?
China is hugely important to North Korea, as its main trading partner.
To read exclusive and detail analysis Monthly Pakistan Affairs
What does North Korea want?
The China's support for North Korea is struggling.
"The North Koreans want to keep their friends close even if there isn't a lot of trust and a lot of goodwill between them".
North Korea's economy is struggling under the international sanctions regime, put in place because of its repeated nuclear and missile tests.
China, its biggest trading partner, has backed those sanctions but has indicated it would be in favour of some sanctions relief as an incentive for North Korea to denuclearise.
China has proved to be the main destination for most of North Korea's exports, including minerals, fish, textiles, and also workers.
Beijing traditionally is also the main importer of goods for North Korea's industry and households. Under current sanctions, a lot of this trade has come to a halt.
"China would prefer to relax UN sanctions in these areas". "It wants to ensure that North Korea's economy grows at a fair pace and that the North does not feel the need to test ballistic missiles and/or nuclear weapons again."
Given that sanctions are not likely to get lifted, there is little China can do.
But Kim Hyun-wook, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, told Reuters that Chinese economic support - possibly even China creating a "hole" in sanctions - would mean Mr Kim "doesn't have to negotiate with the US from a position of weakness".
"It can have both nuclear weapons and economic aid from China," he said.
What does China want?
China's main goal is stability in North Korea and economic co-operation, and ensuring that it remains a significant party in the negotiations over North Korea's nuclear programme.
The two communist-led states are old allies. But ties have been strained over the past decade, with Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions viewed critically by Beijing
The official China Daily newspaper observes that the two leaders need to "agree on some concrete co-operation projects".
And in a rare front page editorial in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper recently, Mr Xi reiterated his support for nuclear talks, saying: "China supports North Korea for maintaining the right direction in resolving the issue of the Korean peninsula politically."
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