The top Communist Party of China (CPC) official from the border province of Jilin began a visit to northeast North Korea on Monday, according to state media, likely to discuss cross-border economic cooperation and other areas of exchange.

CPC Jilin Provincial Committee Secretary Bayinchaolu is leading a “friendship delegation,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, with stops in the border town of Hoeryong followed by the east coast city of Chongjin on Monday.

The trip comes as the DPRK’s North Hamgyong province has recently been the spotlight of national construction projects and as Jilin province continues to carry out