China, DPRK premiers vow to bolster economic ties

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his counterpart from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Yong Rim held talks here on Monday, and both pledged to promote trade, investment and economic cooperation. "Under the context of the complicated regional and international situation, the parties, governments and peoples of China and the DPRK...made joint efforts to push forward bilateral ties," Wen told Choe at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. China will maintain the exchange of high-level visits, deepen strategic contact and safeguard common interests with the DPRK so as to promote friendship and cooperation between the two sides, Wen said after a red-carpet welcoming ceremony for Choe. Wen hailed the DPRK's achievements in developing its economy and improving its people's livelihoods, adding that China will further share its experiences in governance and economic development with the DPRK. "China supports the DPRK's exploration of its own way of development in accordance with its domestic situation, and will continue to offer assistance within its capability," Wen said. He called on the two sides to speed up mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture. On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, Wen said China hopes that all sides can maintain contact and dialogue, improve relations and resume the six-party talks at an early date. Choe, also member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said it's a firm stance of the party and government of the DPRK to consolidate unity and cooperation with China. The DPRK will deepen cooperation with China in trade and infrastructure, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in the country, he said, pledging to offer convenience for that. On the six-party talks, Choe said the DPRK insists on the denuclearization of the peninsula via dialogue and consultation, proposing the resumption of talks without preconditions and pledging to maintain contact with China on that issue. Choe is here as a guest of Wen, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.