ID :
47820
Thu, 02/26/2009 - 21:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/47820
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China invites North Korean leader for summit: report
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- China has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao, as the two allied nations celebrate their 60th year of diplomatic relations, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday.
The invitation was offered a day earlier by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the People's
Political Consultative Conference of China and the fourth-ranking member of the
Communist Party's politburo standing committee, to a visiting delegation of the
Workers' Party of North Korea, according to the Korean Central Broadcasting
Station (KCBS).
"Mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries are the most essential and
irreplaceable in developing bilateral relations," Jia was quoted as telling the
North Korean officials by the KCBS.
"We will ardently welcome Comrade Kim Jong-il and senior officials of the Korean
party government to visit China at a convenient time," he said.
Kim has already accepted a similar invitation extended on behalf of Hu in a
letter delivered by a Chinese party official last month. The official, Wang
Jiarui, was the first foreign guest to meet with Kim since his reported stroke
last August.
No schedule has yet been set. Kim last visited China in January 2006, with his
itinerary focused on the country's industrial facilities. Hu's last trip to
Pyongyang was in October 2005.
The visiting North Korean party delegation was led by Ri Kwang-ho, department
director of the Workers' Party central committee, who is a close confidant of
Kim's and the North's top science expert. Ri also accompanied the North Korean
leader on his latest China visit.
Jia also proposed strengthening economic and trade ties, according to the KCBS,
which he said would be beneficial to "strategic cooperation" between the allies.
After the meeting between Kim and Wang on Jan. 23, North Korea unilaterally
announced the Chinese government's decision to provide free aid to the North.
Beijing later confirmed the agreement, but neither has disclosed the extent or
timing of the aid.
A flurry of diplomatic and cultural exchange is planned for the allies' 60th
anniversary of forming diplomatic relations. China fought for North Korea in the
1950-53 Korean War against South Korea and the U.S.-led United Nations forces.
North Korean media also said Wednesday that the allies have signed a 2009-2011
inter-governmental plan aimed at boosting cultural exchange.
The invitation was offered a day earlier by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the People's
Political Consultative Conference of China and the fourth-ranking member of the
Communist Party's politburo standing committee, to a visiting delegation of the
Workers' Party of North Korea, according to the Korean Central Broadcasting
Station (KCBS).
"Mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries are the most essential and
irreplaceable in developing bilateral relations," Jia was quoted as telling the
North Korean officials by the KCBS.
"We will ardently welcome Comrade Kim Jong-il and senior officials of the Korean
party government to visit China at a convenient time," he said.
Kim has already accepted a similar invitation extended on behalf of Hu in a
letter delivered by a Chinese party official last month. The official, Wang
Jiarui, was the first foreign guest to meet with Kim since his reported stroke
last August.
No schedule has yet been set. Kim last visited China in January 2006, with his
itinerary focused on the country's industrial facilities. Hu's last trip to
Pyongyang was in October 2005.
The visiting North Korean party delegation was led by Ri Kwang-ho, department
director of the Workers' Party central committee, who is a close confidant of
Kim's and the North's top science expert. Ri also accompanied the North Korean
leader on his latest China visit.
Jia also proposed strengthening economic and trade ties, according to the KCBS,
which he said would be beneficial to "strategic cooperation" between the allies.
After the meeting between Kim and Wang on Jan. 23, North Korea unilaterally
announced the Chinese government's decision to provide free aid to the North.
Beijing later confirmed the agreement, but neither has disclosed the extent or
timing of the aid.
A flurry of diplomatic and cultural exchange is planned for the allies' 60th
anniversary of forming diplomatic relations. China fought for North Korea in the
1950-53 Korean War against South Korea and the U.S.-led United Nations forces.
North Korean media also said Wednesday that the allies have signed a 2009-2011
inter-governmental plan aimed at boosting cultural exchange.
