China, DPRK should boost strategic cooperation: Xi

President Xi Jinping said China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should boost strategic cooperation and firmly safeguard their respective sovereignty, security and development interests in talks with the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un on Monday. Xi, who's also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is in the DPRK for a two-day visit. Xi said the two countries should jointly maintain regional peace and development, as well as strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation. He also said he's ready to work with Kim, who's also general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, "to keep bilateral relations advancing with the times and achieve greater progress in bilateral ties," according to Xinhua News Agency. Xi said he is willing to take the visit as an opportunity to strengthen top-level planning and strategic guidance for China-DPRK relations in the new era. The president added that Beijing stands ready to work with Pyongyang to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and expand practical cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, agriculture, construction, science and technology, as well as health care. Xi said China and the DPRK should adhere to the goal of delivering benefits to the people and enhance the level of practical cooperation. No matter how the international situation changes, the commitment by the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China to safeguard the shared interests of the two countries and preserve a favorable strategic environment will not change, Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. Edited by Edmond Fong