China invited North Korea to join its ambitious modern reconstruction of Silk Road, a project aimed at re-building the ancient trade route between Asia and Europe, Yonhap News reported.
The possibility of North Korea's participation in the Silk Road project was discussed during a recent meeting of Li Jinjun and North's Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong-nam in Pyongyang.
An official statement posted on the website for the Chinese embassy in North Korea said:
"Ambassador Li introduced the concept and vision of ‘One Belt, One Road' and hopes the two sides will work together to seize the opportunity to promote China-North Korea economic and trade cooperation."
Last week, China offered a $28 billion investment package for Pakistan, showing Beijing's determination to get going with the Silk Road project. The sum was a down payment for a $46 billion infrastructure development program called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that aims to connect northwestern China with Pakistan's Arabian Coast.
The megaproject has already caused enthusiasm among other countries. Last week, Kazakhstan unveiled its own ambitious plan of investing over $20 billion by 2020 into its transportation industry, aiming to become the main transit country between the Chinese and European market. Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin stressed that Russia should play a key role in the Silk Road project.
