Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang began a three-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday, at a time when the relationship between the two countries is entering a new era of vigorous development.
The exchange of views between Li and DPRK leaders on the consolidation of bilateral ties, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern, is crucial to further strengthening the political trust between the two countries and will deepen the pragmatic and mutually beneficial economic and trade ties and push the friendly and cooperative bilateral ties to higher levels.
The visit, which began before the United States and the DPRK hold a new round of dialogues on the resumption of the Six-Party Talks in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday, shows China and the DPRK are maintaining their close communication and coordination on international and regional affairs.
This visit, and Li's following visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Oct 26 and Oct 27, will further improve Sino-DPRK and Sino-ROK ties, and make positive contributions to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
China has maintained close communication and coordination with all the parties concerned with Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and it hopes the latest rounds of talks between related parties will be fruitful and create conditions for an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.
China and the DPRK have conducted frequent high-level exchanges this year. DPRK top leader Kim Jong-il visited China in May and August, and senior officials from the two countries have also made a series of exchange visits. A strategic communication mechanism has also been established between the Communist Party of China and the Workers' Party of Korea.
The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has shown great potential, with the bilateral trade and investment volume reaching new highs. Bilateral trade was $3.47 billion in 2010, and the trade volume reached $3.1 billion in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 87 percent, according to Chinese official statistics. The jointly developed "two economic zones" and the new Yalu River Bridge are proceeding well. Exchanges in the fields of culture, education, sports, and science and technology have also increased.
Li is due to visit a number of economic projects in the DPRK aimed at improving people's living standards. Setting the target of building a "strong and prosperous nation", the DPRK's increased emphasis on economic development and improving people's well-being is a very promising sign which will broaden its foreign economic cooperation and attract more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country.
China's experience in this field can help the DPRK develop its economy and break its isolation from the international community.