China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) pledged to further strengthen scientific and technological collaborations at a meeting held in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Cao Jianlin, China's vice-minister of Science and Technology, and Ri Song Uk, vice-president of DPRK's National Academy of Sciences, signed an agreement on joint projects in architecture, water conservancy and agriculture at the meeting of the 43nd Joint Committee Meeting for China-DPRK Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

The Chinese delegation presented office equipment including computers and printers, worth 500,000 yuan (about 72,000 U.S. dollars), as gifts to the DPRK's National Academy of Sciences.

The meeting is held every year to enhance collaborations in science and technology between the two countries. The next meeting will be held in latter half of 2010 in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2009)