China, DPRK to develop economic zones in DPRK

BEIJING -- China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea held the third meeting in Beijing Tuesday on developing two economic zones in the DPRK, China's Ministry of Commerce announced.

Chinese and DPRK officials attended the meeting of the joint steering committee for developing and managing the Rason Economic and Trade Zone and the Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa Islands Economic Zone, according to a press release issued by the ministry.

"Both sides reached the consensus that the cooperation in developing the two economic zones has yielded impressive results and entered the stage of substantial development," the press release said.

The two sides have jointly compiled related plans that will contribute to new progress in establishing mechanisms, training personnel, compiling detailed plans, laws, and regulations, making customs clearance convenient, establishing telecom links, cooperating in agriculture fields, as well as building projects, according to the release.

The meeting was jointly presided over by Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Jang Song Taek, chief of the central administrative department of the Korean Workers' Party.

The joint steering committee held its first meeting in November 2010 and the second meeting in June 2011.

The Rason Economic and Trade Zone is in northeastern DPRK's city of Rason, which is adjacent to northeast China's Jilin province. The Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa Islands Economic Zone is near the estuary of the Yalu River, a border river that runs between the two countries.