DPRK's premier of cabinet to lead delegation to China

Pak Thae-song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will lead a party and government delegation on an official visit to China from Friday to Sunday, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

During the visit, Pak will attend events marking the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a daily news conference. Pak is also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee and vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

Mao said China and the DPRK have agreed to jointly commemorate the treaty's anniversary. Describing the two countries as traditionally friendly neighbors, she said maintaining, consolidating and developing bilateral ties has long been an unswerving strategic policy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.

China stands ready to work with the DPRK, guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, to strengthen strategic communication, expand exchanges and cooperation, and further advance China-DPRK traditional friendship and cooperative ties, Mao said.

Yang Danzhi, a research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China-DPRK relations are at a new historical starting point.

The visit will deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries, reinforce the foundation of the friendship treaty and carry forward its spirit, he said.

It is also expected to maintain smooth channels for high-level strategic communication and government coordination while advancing practical cooperation in trade, agriculture and public well-being, he added.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade exceeded $2.7 billion last year. Cross-border exchanges have gathered pace this year with the full reopening of border crossings and the resumption of civil aviation flights and international passenger train services.

Yang said deeper China-DPRK cooperation will help promote stability in Northeast Asia and reduce the risk of regional conflict.

The two countries' confidence and resolve in safeguarding the interests of socialist countries and the Global South, and in opposing hegemonism, will inject positive energy into global governance under the new circumstances, he said.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn