• Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un held a high-stakes summit in Beijing, marking Kim's first official visit to China in over six years.
• The two leaders expressed mutual support and a commitment to deepen ties amidst increasing geopolitical tensions.
• China reaffirmed its commitment to North Korea amid Pyongyang's growing military relations with Russia.
• The summit was characterized by significant diplomatic gestures, including Xi's praise for the North Korean leader’s support for China's strategic interests.
• Kim's visit included attendance at a military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with other world leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened for a significant bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday, marking a crucial reaffirmation of their countries' solidarity. This meeting, Xi's sixth with Kim since they first started engaging in 2018, came amid a politically charged backdrop following a military parade complete with Russian President Vladimir Putin to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

During their discussions at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi emphasized the importance of their traditional friendship and expressed a willingness to masterfully “consolidate and develop” China-North Korea relations, echoing sentiments that “this position will not change” despite international pressures. Kim reciprocated, insisting that North Korea would continue to support China’s sovereignty and development interests, according to India Times and AA.

The discussions included a focus on enhancing high-level exchanges and increasing cooperation on shared interests, which signifies a deeper strategic alignment not only between Beijing and Pyongyang but also with Moscow. This alignment has been highlighted by North Korea's recent military assistance to Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, marking a notable shift in international dynamics, as mentioned by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Amid this political theater, Kim's appearance marked his first significant foreign trip since 2019, during which he brought his daughter Kim Ju-ae, a move interpreted by analysts as an indication of grooming a successor, according to AA and Africanews.

The summit signifies a recalibration of diplomatic relations in East Asia, particularly as Kim, Xi, and Putin’s collaborative presence at the military parade exhibited a united front countering US influence in the region. This moment also marks a departure from prior focuses on the denuclearization of North Korea, a subject notably absent from recent discussions, indicating a pivot towards an emphasis on mutual support and shared geopolitical strategies, as outlined by SCMP and AA.