Video shows delighted Kim Jong-un receiving letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping has written a letter to Kim Jong-un, prompting speculation that the tension over North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions is dissipating

By Telegraph Video, and agency, video source APTN

9:27AM BST 12 Oct 2015

Since Chinese President Xi Jinping was elected in 2012, Kim Jong-un has struggled to win over his country's only allies.

So it was no surprise when the North Korean dictator looked particularly delighted when a high-ranking Chinese official paid him a visit.

Liu Yunshan, who is number five in the Chinese Communist Party's hierarchy, also handed a letter to Kim from Chinese President Xi Jinping, China Central Television reported.

The visit and the letter marks a shift in the relationship between China andNorth Korea, which has become strained in recent years.

In the letter, President Xi Jinping voiced Beijing's willingness to work with Pyongyang on resuming multi-party talks on its nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Liu praised Kim for leading his country to success in various fields, including economic development and improvement of living standards, according to the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The visit coincided with North Korea's 70th anniversary celebrations of its ruling Workers Party.