President Park Geun-hye’s four-day state visit to China, which starts Thursday, has given rise to so much expectation that some observers here say her “visit in itself will be a success.”

Beijing has set the stage for welcoming her as an “old friend,” who taught herself Chinese and sought peace of mind from a book on the history of Chinese philosophy when she went through difficult times. The personal bond between the South Korean president and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who will hold talks shortly after her arrival in Beijing, dates back to the days when Park led an opposition party and Xi served as a provincial government head in the mid-2000s.

Park’s rapport with Xi and understanding of China’s history and language may not automatically draw superior results from her first visit to China since taking office in February. But it is sure that her personal touches will help her hold candid and substantial discussions with Xi and other Chinese officials on cooperation in resolving the North Korean nuclear problem and deepening a forward-looking partnership between their countries.

The immediate media focus will be placed on how close and concerted the two leaders will be in addressing the nuclear threat from the North and other matters regarding the Korean Peninsula. Park said early this week she would use her summit with Xi to further bolster cooperation with Beijing in getting Pyongyang to discard its nuclear programs and come forward for sincere talks. It is likely that her approach to North Korea will be backed by the Chinese leader, who had agreed with U.S. President Barack Obama to denuclearize the North during their summit in early June.

Accompanied by a large number of business delegates, Park has also expressed hope that her trip to China will help expand economic cooperation between the two countries. Particularly, it can give an impetus to negotiations on a free trade agreement with China, which is forecast to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy during Xi’s rule that is set to continue for the coming decade.

The joint statement to be issued after the summit is expected to chart the course for substantiating the strategic cooperative partnership declared by South Korea and China in 2008.

But the fundamental significance of her trip, as noted by many diplomatic observers, may lie in consolidating trust with Chinese leaders, with whom she will communicate throughout her five-year term in office. This mutual trust at the top level will be the foundation for mature collaboration between South Korea and China in establishing a new regional order, in which Seoul may contribute to achieving a constructive balance between China and the U.S. and its ally Japan.

Park apparently keeps this point in mind, with the slogan for her visit, which literally translates into a “trip of mind and trust,” making clear her wish to win Chinese hearts.