BEIJING, March 11 (Reuters): The first passenger train service between China and North Korea after a six-year hiatus is scheduled to set off ​from Beijing on Thursday, part of a series of by China to shore up cross-border infrastructure and rebuild bilateral ties.

Following a 24 hour and 41 minute journey skirting north of the Bohai Sea ​and a stopover in China's northeastern border city of Dandong, train ​K27 from Beijing is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang ⁠at 6:07 p.m. (0907 GMT) on Friday, according to a Tuesday notice ​from China's railway authority.

China and North Korea are "friendly neighbours" and a ​cross-border passenger train service facilitates people-to-people exchanges between the two, China's foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday.

China also supports the strengthening of communication between authorities ​on both sides to create more convenient conditions for bilateral personnel ​exchanges, the spokesperson added.

The train service was suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic broke ⁠in 2020.

Photo from Reuters