China welcomes and supports the establishment of the Siniuju
Special Administrative Region (SAR) by the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue
said Tuesday.
Zhang made this remark at a regular press conference when asked to
comment on the DPRK's recent announcement of the establishment of
the Siniuju SAR.
China, traditionally a friendly neighbor of the DPRK, is willing to
strengthen cooperation of mutual benefit, so as to promote the
common development of both countries and the region at large,
according to Zhang.
Sinuiju is in the northwestern corner of the country, on the border
with China. DPRK said last week that it wanted to turn the region,
now a poor agricultural and industrial area, which reportedly lacks
even clean water, into an international financial, industrial and
tourist center. It appears to be using booming special regions in
China as a model.
( September 25, 2002)