Friday's one-day working visit by Republic of Korea (ROK)
President Roh Moo-hyun to China was part of a flurry of high-level
diplomacy going on in the world.
Roh's trip attracted widespread attention as the two neighbors
of North Korea compared notes on how to deal with the nuclear
crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
The crisis caused by North Korea's nuclear test topped the
agenda of the summits between Roh and Chinese leaders - President
Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiaobao.
China and the ROK have been of the same view on handling North
Korea nuclear issue. Both at the Six-Party talks last September and
for North Korea's missile test in July, the two countries had
effective and feasible co-ordination between high-ranking
officials.
This approach helps stabilize the situation on the Korean
Peninsula.
Roh's visit, his second trip to China since he took office in
2003, provided a timely opportunity for the leaders of the two
countries to exchange opinions.
They have been opposing the use of force against North Korea
after it announced its nuclear test on Monday.
For the past eight years, the ROK has tried to engage North
Korea with trade and aid.
Roh said the "sunshine" policy has "helped dispel people's
concerns by easing tensions in South-North relations and helped
economic activities by ensuring confidence in economic
stability."
The summits between Chinese and South Korean leaders were of
vital significance as the United Nations Security Council considers
a resolution on North Korea.
While the Council squabbles about how to respond to the North
Korea's nuclear test, diplomacy remains at work in big
countries.
As a representative of President Hu Jintao, State Councillor
Tang Jiaxuan met with US President George W. Bush on Wednesday and
flew to Moscow on Friday for two days of talks with Russian
officials. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister is currently in East
Asia.
All these diplomatic endeavors are being done in an attempt to
work out a solution to bring North Korea back to negotiations.
International calls emphasize the urgent need for North Korea to
return to the Six-Party talks, which have sought to resolve the
nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
The steadily expanding relations between China and the ROK since
the formalization of diplomatic ties in 1992 helps the two
countries better co-ordinate their efforts in regional and
international affairs, particularly the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula.
Peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue is in the
interest of all parties involved.
This is the most realistic and reasonable approach.
(China Daily October 14, 2006)
