China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) yesterday agreed to expand
their comprehensive partnership with the signing of four pacts
after talks between visiting Premier Wen Jiabao and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun.
The agreements cover exchanges among young people, labor
exports, migratory bird protection and marine search and
rescue.
They also vowed to continue efforts to make the Korean Peninsula
nuclear free and safeguard peace and stability in Northeast
Asia.
Wen, who arrived yesterday in Seoul on a two-day official visit,
the first by a Chinese premier in seven years, made a five-point
proposal to strengthen bilateral relations. They are:
-- Maintaining high-level exchanges between government
departments, legislative bodies and political parties.
-- Deepening economic and trade cooperation. Emphasis should be
laid on environmental protection, energy saving and
telecommunications.
-- Promoting exchanges of personnel and cultural activities.
-- Strengthening bilateral coordination and cooperation on
regional and global affairs.
-- Handling issues of each other's concerns.
The two sides should work out a win-win plan for a China-ROK
free trade area (FTA) at the earliest date," Wen said.
Responding to Wen, Roh said he expects the two governments will
sign an investment protection treaty soon, and study the
possibility of establishing an FTA as well as clearing barriers
blocking Chinese goods from entering the ROK market.
He emphasized that the ROK "welcomes, and not worries about",
China's development.
"The improvement in the Chinese people's living standards and
the expansion of the Chinese market offer many opportunities to the
ROK," Roh said, adding the two countries could develop together and
further their common interests through high-level cooperation and
fair competition.
On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Wen reaffirmed China's
commitment to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula and
said Beijing insists on resolving the issue through dialogue and
peaceful means.
"Continued progress will be achieved in promoting the process of
the Six-Party Talks so long as all relevant parties bear in mind
the overall interest of maintaining peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole and make unremitting
efforts in that direction," Wen said.
China is keen to work together with the ROK and other parties
concerned to realize long-term peace and stability in Northeast
Asia, he added.
Roh appreciated China's constructive role in trying to resolve
the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and said the ROK and China have
enjoyed close cooperation in the Six-Party Talks, which not only
strengthened their bilateral ties and enhanced mutual trust but
also helped set an example for resolving other issues in Northeast
Asia.
Seoul is "hopeful of a settlement of the nuclear issue on the
Korean Peninsula", he added.
Wen also held a meeting with his ROK counterpart Han Duck-soo
yesterday and is scheduled to meet parliament leaders today.
No two countries have relations as close as China and the ROK in
the short span of 15 years since diplomatic ties were established,
Han said.
Wen travels to Japan this afternoon on what he described as an
"ice-thawing journey".
(China Daily April 11, 2007)
