Xi Wraps Up Visit As North Korea Hails Ties

North Korea lauded its ties with historic ally China on Friday as Xi Jinping wrapped up a highly symbolic two-day visit to his nuclear-armed neighbour, with both countries facing deadlock in their negotiations with US President Donald Trump.

Kim Jong-un told the president that his visit was an opportunity to demonstrate "the immutability and invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship before the world", the KCNA news agency reported.

At a time when "serious and complicated changes are happening in international and regional situations", KCNA said, the two leaders agreed to "promote close strategic communication" and develop their "common interests".

Pyongyang pulled out all the stops to welcome Xi, the first Chinese president to visit in 14 years.

Analysts say Xi, who left Pyongyang on Friday, intended to use the trip as a signal to Trump of his influence with Kim, a week before the G20 summit in Japan.

But North Korean media did not carry comments by Kim reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, which quoted him as saying that he was "willing to be patient" in the talks with the US, but wanted "the parties concerned" to meet him halfway.

Xi told him that China "positively evaluated" the North's efforts, CCTV said.

Tens of thousands of citizens had lined up to welcome Xi, with KCNA saying they expressed their "friendly affection" for Chinese citizens who have "shared joys and sorrows" with them in the pursuit of socialism.

Kim and Xi rode together through the streets of Pyongyang in an open-topped Mercedes Benz limousine, and on Thursday evening Xi and his entourage were treated to a special performance of the North's Mass Games.

It featured multiple images of Chinese-Korean history and friendship on the backdrop – made up of thousands of children turning the pages of coloured books – slogans, and a portrait of Xi.

Songs in the show included "I love thee, China", and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, carried front-page pictures of Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju welcoming Xi. (AFP)