South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s upcoming trip to China will be a “state visit,” the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, her spokeswoman said Friday

“President Park Geun-hye plans to make a state visit to China at the end of June at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping,” presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing told reporters. “South Korea and China plan to announce details, including the length of the visit, at an appropriate time in the future.”

A state visit often involves a welcoming ceremony with parades and a review of a military honor guard.

“China requested a state visit from the very start,” Kim said, adding that the president is considering visiting Beijing and one other provincial city during the trip.

China will be Park’s second overseas trip since taking office in February. In early May, she visited the United States and held summit talks with President Barack Obama where they reaffirmed that the two countries are firmly united against threats from North Korea.

North Korea is expected to be a key topic for the first summit between Park and Xi. Beijing is considered the only country with any meaningful influence over Pyongyang as a key provider of economic assistance and diplomatic support.

China is also South Korea’s largest trading partner. (Yonhap News)