On the morning of July 11, Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Pak Tae-sung, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Prime Minister of the Cabinet, who was in China for an official visit.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 11 (Reporter Cao Jiayue) On the morning of July 11, Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Pak Tae-sung, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Prime Minister of the Cabinet, who was in China for an official visit.

Li Qiang said that China and North Korea are friendly neighbors who share a common destiny and help each other.Early last month, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a state visit to North Korea, and he and General Secretary Kim Jong-un reached a series of important consensuses on deepening China-North Korea relations and jointly issued strategic guidance.It has always been the unswerving policy of the Chinese party and government to maintain, consolidate and develop China-North Korea relations.China is willing to work with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, continue to uphold the spirit of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, intensify high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, better benefit the two peoples, and make positive contributions to the peaceful development of the region and the world.

Li Qiang pointed out that this year is the beginning of China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” and also the beginning of North Korea’s implementation of the decisions and arrangements of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Korea.China is willing to align its development strategies with the DPRK, steadily expand economic and trade exchanges, promote connectivity, deepen cooperation in medical, health, education and other areas of people's livelihood, so as to enhance the well-being of the people of the two countries.Both sides should continue to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and further tighten the bonds of people-to-people ties.The current international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. As both socialist countries, China and North Korea should strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation and work together to defend their legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice.

Park Tae-sung said that under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, China’s comprehensive national strength has been unprecedentedly improved, its international influence has been increasing, and China-style modernization has continued to make new achievements. The DPRK expressed warm congratulations.General Secretary Kim Jong-un and General Secretary Xi Jinping held a historic meeting in Pyongyang not long ago, which fully demonstrated the unbreakable unity and friendship between the two parties and countries of North Korea and China, and provided strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.The DPRK firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests and is willing to work with the Chinese side to follow the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, take the grand celebration of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the DPRK and China as an opportunity to intensify high-level exchanges and strategic communication, expand exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen international cooperation, jointly promote the development of the socialist cause, and write a new chapter in DPRK-China relations.

Before the talks, Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for Park Tae-sung in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wu Zhenglong participated in the above activities.