BEIJING: A North Korean delegation has visited Beijing to learn about China’s experience in economic reform and opening up, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, the latest diplomatic outreach by the isolated regime, reports AFP.
The Cold War-era allies have stepped up contacts in recent weeks as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un prepares for a historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.
China said Pak Thae Song, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, visited Beijing on Monday at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party.“This visit is a concrete example of the important consensus between (Communist Party) General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong Un,” foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing, confirming media reports about the trip.
The delegation came to “learn about the achievements of China’s domestic economic development and reform and opening-up process, and promote an exchange of experience between the two parties on governance issues,” Lu said.
Analysts have said Kim’s promise last month to build “socialist economic construction” could herald more Chinese-style economic reforms, which transformed the communist-led country into the world’s second largest economy.
China imports 4.71mn tonnes
of liquefied natural gas in Aug
