China will dispatch a top-level diplomat to North Korea following US President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing last week.

China just had its National Congress, the closest thing the Communist Party has to elections.

China usually informs other communist countries, like North Korea, of the results of the congress, so it's unclear whether North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs will be discussed.



BEIJING — A senior Chinese diplomat will visit North Korea on Friday as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing said, though it did not say the envoy was planning to discuss North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

China has repeatedly pushed for a diplomatic solution to the crisis but in recent months has had only limited high-level exchanges with North Korea. The last time China's special envoy for North Korea visited the country was in February 2016.

In a brief dispatch, China's Xinhua news agency said Song Tao, who heads the ruling Communist Party's external-affairs department, would leave for North Korea on Friday.

He will "inform the DPRK of the 19th CPC National Congress and visit the DPRK," Xinhua said on Wednesday, using an acronym for the North's official name and referring to China's recently concluded Communist Party congress at which Xi further cemented his power.

North Korea's KCNA news agency confirmed the visit but said only that it would take place "soon."

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center. Ng Han Guan/AP

US President Donald Trump visited Beijing last week as part of a lengthy Asia tour, during which he pressed for greater action to rein in North Korea — especially from China, with which North Korea does 90% of its trade.

It is not clear how long Song could stay, but he has already visited Vietnam and Laos to inform them of the results of the congress, a courtesy China typically extends to other communist countries after such meetings.

It is also unclear whether Song will meet North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un.

Song's "main objective" in going to North Korea is to "report on the 19th party congress," Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a daily news briefing, adding that it was routine for China and other socialist countries to have such exchanges after important party meetings.

The two countries would also "exchange opinions on matters of mutual concern" during the visit, Geng said.

He reiterated that China was committed to resolving the Korean nuclear issue peacefully through consultation.

Kim and Xi exchanged messages of congratulations and thanks over the congress, but neither leader has visited the other's country since assuming power.

Xi. Reuters

Song's department is in charge of the party's relations with foreign political parties, and it has traditionally served as a conduit for Chinese diplomacy with North Korea.

A department official said last month that China's Communist Party continued to hold talks and maintain contacts with its North Korean counterpart, describing the two countries' friendship as important for regional stability.

China's new special envoy for North Korea, Kong Xuanyou, is not believed to have visited the country since assuming the job in August.