North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met the leader of China’s national legislature on Saturday and stressed the importance of bilateral ties, though an expert told NK News that Beijing is likely taking a cautious approach with the “rogue state.”

Kim reportedly said the visit by Zhao Leji, China’s third highest-ranked official, was “of very weighty significance in demonstrating the invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship.”

Zhao arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday and attended the opening ceremonyfor the 75th Year of China-DPRK Friendship on Friday, where he reportedly said that bilateral ties have taken “deeper root and become more durable