China's Xi begins two-day state visit to North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day state visit to North Korea on Monday which is to include talks with the country's ruler Kim Jong Un.

Images published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua showed his plane touching down in Pyongyang.

It is Xi's first visit to the internationally isolated neighbouring country in about seven years.

Xi and Kim have meet six times in the past.

According to Beijing, bilateral relations and common interests are expected to dominate the agenda.

Ahead of his visit to North Korea, Xi spoke of "new opportunities for development" for the two neighbouring countries in an op-ed for the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun.

China is regarded as North Korea's most important political and economic partner.