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China, DPRK top officials meet on ties

China.org.cn, October 24, 2011

• Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Choe Yong Rim, premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang Sunday on bilateral relations.

  Li said two countries have reached broad consensus on further promoting bilateral ties when Choe recently visited China, Xinhua reported.

  As good neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries have supported each other, consolidated their good neighborly friendship, and advanced mutually beneficial cooperation since they established diplomatic relations 62 years ago, he said.

  It has not only promoted their respective socialist construction, but made positive contributions to regional peace and stability, he said at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.

  Li said it is China's unswerving policy to continuously consolidate and develop the traditional friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK.

  China stands ready to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both nations, further strengthen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various areas and promote the sound and steady development of bilateral ties, he added.

  Li also pledged to maintain the rapid growth in trade between two sides and actively and properly carry out major cooperative projects.

  He also briefed Choe on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and China's reform and opening-up as well as its socialist modernization.

  He said that it is in the interests of various parties concerned to improve the DPRK's ties with South Korea and the United States, enhance dialogues and contacts, and safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

  China supports the DPRK in its efforts to take the right direction for engagement and dialogues, resume the six-party talks at an early date, promote denuclearization on the peninsular, further ease tension there, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development, he said.

  Choe, also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK), said it is the DPRK's unwavering policy and in the strategic interests of both sides to strengthen their traditional friendship and deepen their cooperation.

  He said two countries need to promote political trust, expand practical cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, mining and infrastructure, carry on the traditional friendship from generation to generation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

  Li attended a welcome reception hosted by Choe on the behalf of the WPK and the DPRK government later in the day.

  Representatives from departments concerned of both sides signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation and other cooperative documents on Sunday.

  Li arrived in Pyongyang earlier Sunday for an official goodwill visit to Pyongyang.

   

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