Joe Lay

Hi, Victoria.

Yeah, I think they'll be an important part.

Denuclearisation of North Korea has long been an ambition of China and, of course, of the US and other partners.

But it hasn't gone that far, as we know, because Kim Jong-un has actually managed to develop a very impressive arsenal of weapons.

But we think this will be discussed and we think this will be sort of a point of contention between them.

Yeah, it's funny.

I mean, ahead of the talks, as you mentioned, Kim has been really rattling the saver saying, there's no way I'm going to give up these weapons.

So we wouldn't really expect perhaps much movement on this.

But you know, what he might agree to do is just to ease things a little bit, maybe make a little less noise, maybe talk to his neighbours a little bit more, engage a bit more.

And in return for that, China could offer some

some benefits such as perhaps sending Chinese tourists to North Korea.

That's something that it's a little bit unclear under the sanctions regime if that's allowed or not.

So that's something that China could do for North Korea.

And of course, you know, China already does do quite a lot for North Korea in terms of helping with its economy.

Yeah, I think with President Xi, he's probably looking for economic benefits.

They have announced a new economic plan and a blueprint, and for that they need resources.

And really, China is the only one who can help them with that.

But on the other hand, they don't want to fall too much into the hands of China.

And that's why they've become very good at

playing Russia off against China and even the US off against the other two.