A potential state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang reportedly soon would mark his first overseas trip of the year and reinforce Beijing’s influence as North Korea-Russia ties deepen amid global tensions, analysts say. BEIJING: Is Chinese President Xi Jinping set to make a state visit to North Korea soon? This prospect has surfaced in recent days, following media reports and sightings of a Chinese delegation in Pyongyang, and attracted international scrutiny over its timing.