China welcomes and supports the establishment of the Siniuju Special Administrative Region (SAR) by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday.

Zhang made this remark at a regular press conference when asked to comment on the DPRK's recent announcement of the establishment of the Siniuju SAR.

China, traditionally a friendly neighbor of the DPRK, is willing to strengthen cooperation of mutual benefit, so as to promote the common development of both countries and the region at large, according to Zhang.

Sinuiju is in the northwestern corner of the country, on the border with China. DPRK said last week that it wanted to turn the region, now a poor agricultural and industrial area, which reportedly lacks even clean water, into an international financial, industrial and tourist center. It appears to be using booming special regions in China as a model.

(People's Daily September 25, 2002)