Sunday, December 25, 2005

China, N. Korea Ink Oil-Exploration Pact

Chron.com | China, N. Korea Ink Oil-Exploration Pact: "China, N. Korea Ink Oil-Exploration Pact

2005 The Associated Press

BEIJING ? China and North Korea signed an agreement Saturday to jointly develop offshore oil reserves, the Chinese government said, amid efforts to prod the North to speed up economic reforms.

The deal was signed after a meeting in Beijing between North Korean Vice Premier Ro Tu Chol and his Chinese counterpart, Zeng Peiyan, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The report offered no other details.

North Korea has begun limited Chinese-style reforms in its decrepit, centrally planned economy. But Beijing is pushing Pyongyang to speed up economic development and has promised aid and advice.

Beijing also is under pressure from the United States to use its influence with Pyongyang to push for a settlement to demands that the North give up nuclear weapons."

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