China's strategy to bolster its influence in the Asia-Pacific region has been making strides recently, as the situation on the Korean Peninsula has been moving in a positive direction for the Asian power.
If North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledges to take concrete steps toward complete denuclearization, U.S. President Donald Trump could in return promise to shrink the U.S. military presence in South Korea, a move that would be welcomed in Beijing.
A possible improvement in the relationship between Pyongyang and Washington could also prompt North Korea to open its market to the world, which would provide a window of opportunity for China to expand its giant economy further.