Li Qiang to visit N. Korea for anniversary


Chinese Premier Li Qiang (pic) will lead a Chinese delegation to North Korea to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of its ruling party, North Korean state media KCNA reported.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed Li’s visit from Oct 9 to 11 in a separate announcement yesterday and said China is willing to take the opportunity to strengthen communication and deepen partnerships with North Korea.

A delegation from Russia’s United Russia party, led by chairman Dmitry Medvedev, is also scheduled to attend the event commemorating the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Friday, KCNA reported earlier.

Last month, North Kor­ean leader Kim Jong-un joined Chinese Presi­dent Xi Jinping and Russ­ian President Vladimir Putin to attend a massive military parade in Bei­jing marking the 80th anniversary since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War II, a move seen to be aimed at bols­te­ring Kim’s diplomatic standing.

North Korea’s Kim said yesterday in a letter congratulating Putin on his birthday that the alliance between the countries will not only contribute to deve­loping bilateral relations but also to establishing a “just and multi-polarised world order”.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he hoped relations between North Korea and China would develop in a way that contri­butes to denuclearisation and peace on the Korean peninsula, in a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam will also attend the event this week, in the first visit of a Vietnamese leader in nearly 20 years. His trip comes after he visi­ted South Korea, a major trading partner, in August as the first foreign guest hosted by President Lee Jae-myung.

Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith is also scheduled to visit North Korea this week. — Reuters

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