China ready to explore potential for practical cooperation with DPRK: Premier Li

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is willing to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to explore the potential for practical cooperation and add more impetus to the development and construction of the two countries.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his meeting with Pak Thae Song, premier of the cabinet of the DPRK and presidium member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

Li said that during their recent meeting in Beijing, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un reached a series of important consensus on deepening relations between the two parties and two countries.

China will, as always, firmly support the WPK in leading the DPRK people to follow a development path that suits its national conditions, he noted.

Li stressed that China is willing to work with the DPRK to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, enhance high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, continuously consolidate political mutual trust, and secure new progress in the traditional friendship and cooperation between China and the DPRK.

The people of China and the DPRK have a profound and special friendship, Li said, calling on both sides to enhance exchanges and mutual visits at all levels in such fields as youth, culture, education, art and sports, and continuously deepen the friendly feelings between the people.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers' (CPV) entering the DPRK to fight in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953), Li said, adding that China stands ready to work with the DPRK to successfully hold commemorative activities.

As the international situation is undergoing profound changes, both sides should unite and cooperate more closely to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China and the DPRK, and maintain international fairness and justice, he noted.

For his part, Pak said the historic meeting between General Secretary Kim and General Secretary Xi in Beijing last month has provided strategic guidance and injected strong impetus into the development of relations between the DPRK and China.

The WPK, government and people of the DPRK hold sincere and friendly feelings towards China, he said, noting that consolidating and developing the unbreakable relations between the DPRK and China is the unwavering position of the WPK and government of the DPRK.

The DPRK side is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, enhance exchanges on governance, expand friendly exchanges, deepen cooperation in various fields, closely cooperate on the path of realizing the socialist cause, and constantly create a new situation in the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and China, Pak said.

The DPRK firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests and is willing to jointly commemorate the 75th anniversary of the CPV's entering the DPRK to fight in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, he said, calling on both sides to closely engage in multilateral collaboration and safeguard common interests.

On Friday morning, Li, accompanied by Pak, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay his respects to late DPRK leaders of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

China ready to explore potential for practical cooperation with DPRK: Premier Li

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China signals a policy shift towards building a more pragmatic relationship between the two countries, according to a Canadian researcher.

Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin an official visit to China through Saturday, which marks the first trip by a Canadian Prime Minister to the country in eight years.

Robert Hanlon, director and principal investigator of Canada and the Asia Pacific Policy Project (CAPPP) at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) that Carney's visit indicates Canada is recalibrating its strategic perception of China, which could cement the foundation for the country's economic diversification efforts and boost the development of bilateral cooperation.

"I think it's a clear message that he has moved Canada's strategy to a much more pragmatic, interest-based, -focused relationship with our trading partners, moving away from values-based narratives that we might have heard on previous governments. Canada has spoken about moving from what the Prime Minister's Office is calling "from reliance to resilience", and that means diversifying our economies and our trade everywhere in the world. And so China being our second largest trading partner, it makes perfect sense for our PM to head to Beijing," he said.

The scholar also noted the huge cooperation potential between the two sides in economic and trade fields, citing Canada's efforts to step up shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the planned construction of an oil pipeline in Alberta which aims to increase export access to Asian markets. "Canada and China both share tremendous economic opportunities together and so finding ways to enhance our exports. Canada specifically looking to build out its LNG and oil, kind of export market. We know Canada is a major producer of critical minerals and China is a buyer. And so there's a lot of synergy between that kind of those kind of markets," he said.

Canadian PM's visit to China paves way for more pragmatic trade ties: scholar