Chinese Premier Li Qiang, seen here at the U.N. General Assembly in September, will travel to North Korea this week to attend events commemorating the founding anniversary of the North's ruling party, both countries said Tuesday. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit North Korea this week to participate in events commemorating the founding of the North's ruling political party, both countries said Tuesday.
Li will "lead a party and government delegation to the DPRK to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Workers' Party of Korea and pay an official goodwill visit" from Thursday to Saturday, China's Foreign Ministry announced.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.
"China and North Korea are traditionally friendly neighbors," a ministry spokesperson said about the trip. "Maintaining, consolidating and developing China-North Korea relations has always been the unwavering strategic policy of the Chinese [Communist] Party and government.
