A rare state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korea culminated in a series of highly symbolic events alongside Kim Jong Un. From paying respects at the Friendship Tower to observing military ceremonies and a grand farewell at Pyongyang's airport, the visit highlighted the historical and strategic ties between the two neighbours. The carefully curated optics suggest both Beijing and Pyongyang are keen to project an image of solidarity and partnership as geopolitical dynamics continue to shift across the region and beyond.