In this photo provided by the North Korean government, from second left in front, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive for a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)2025-09-04T08:18:46Z BEIJING (AP) Chinas Foreign Ministry said Thursday that visiting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.There were no immediate details on when they would meet.Kim attended a Chinese military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, alongside other foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim is making a rare trip outside North Korea.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the two leaders would conduct in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.He said that Kims attendance at the parade and the talks with Xi carry great significance.The North Korean leader, who arrived in Beijing by train on Tuesday, was among 26 foreign leaders who watched the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was the first time that he joined an event with a large group of world leaders since taking office in late 2011. Kim, on his first visit to China in six years, brought his young daughter, adding to speculation that shes being primed as the countrys next leader.Experts say Kim likely hopes to restore ties with China, North Koreas biggest trading partner and aid provider, as there have been questions about the bilateral relationship. In recent years, Kims foreign policy has focused heavily on Russia. He has sent combat troops and ammunition to back Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance. At a meeting with Kim in Beijing after the parade, Putin praised the bravery of North Korean soldiers in the fighting. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. But experts say that Kim would feel the need to prepare for the possible end of the Russia-Ukraine war. Some observers say Kims trip could also be meant to increase leverage in potential talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his hopes to resume diplomacy between the two countries. China, which is North Koreas biggest trading partner and main provider of aid, wants its neighbor to return to negotiation and give up its nuclear weapons development.North Korea has reached out to Russia, raising some concern in Beijing, which has long been North Koreas most important ally. At a meeting with Kim in Beijing after the parade, Putin praised the bravery of North Korean soldiers that Kim has sent to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.The joint appearance of Kim, Xi and Putin at the parade has sparked speculation about a joint effort to push back at U.S. pressure on their three countries. Trump said as much in a social media post, telling Xi to give his warmest regards to Putin and Kim as you conspire against The United States of America.Putin dismissed that idea at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, saying no one has expressed anything negative about the Trump administration during his trip to China.The President of the United States is not without a sense of humor, he said.Though China, North Korea and Russia are embroiled in separate confrontations with the U.S., they havent formed a clear three-way alliance so far. Zhu Feng, the dean of Nanjing Universitys School of International Relations, said that ganging up with North Korea would damage Chinas image, because the former is the most closed and authoritarian country in the world.It should not be overinterpreted that China-North Korea-Russia relations would see reinforcement, he said.___Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea. KEN MORITSUGU Moritsugu covers political, economic and social issues from Beijing for The Associated Press. He has also reported from New Delhi, Bangkok and Tokyo and is the APs former news director for Greater China and for Japan and the Koreas. twitter