In November 2004, the leaders of China and the ROK reached an agreement to start studies on the possibility of setting up an FTA. After five years of studies and discussions, experts on the two sides agreed that an FTA would spur GDP growth in both countries.

Though the increase was expected to be 0.5 percent for China, it would have been a substantial 3 percent for the ROK. Although the figure is lower than that for the FTA between the US and the ROK, it is more than that for the FTAs the ROK has with the European Union and Japan.

China enjoys certain advantages in agriculture, fishing and clothing, while the ROK is strong in steel, auto and other manufacturing areas. It's a pity that the two countries still haven't been able to agree on an FTA. Two reasons could have influenced the ROK's decision not to set up an FTA with China.

First, the ROK thinks Chinese products could influence its domestic market, a fear that is unwarranted. China is an agricultural country with a population of 1.3 billion and a massive market, and a majority of Chinese still live in rural areas.

Since the country's per capita arable land share is low, its agricultural products are consumed mainly by its own consumers and hence are not so competitive in the international market. Last year, China's agricultural exports accounted for only 5 percent of the total to the ROK, among which many were from China-ROK joint ventures.

Besides, China is wary of exporting its agricultural products. People have not forgotten the consequences of exporting garlic to the ROK a few years ago. And with China's economic development and the improvement in living standards, Chinese consumers are demanding more high-quality and green products, making it possible to import them from other countries, including the ROK. An example is the rice imported from Japan and Thailand.

The ROK's other concern is related to the US. The US administration is apparently against a China-ROK free trade area because it thinks it would help China to take move ahead in its efforts to integrate East Asia.

There are three relationships that call for setting up a China-ROK free trade area. The first is the mutual benefit such an agreement will bring. The second is that a China-ROK free trade area is not aimed at undermining US interests. And the third is that it will strengthen the relationship between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and farmers, the disadvantaged groups today.

We can create a mutually beneficial situation only if we take care of the needs and interests of the SMEs and farmers.

China has been trying to build a stable, harmonious, prosperous and sustainable East Asia. Countries that blame others of trying to usurp the leadership role may be the ones that want to be the leaders themselves.

It's natural for East Asia and even the whole of Asia would try to determine its own developing path, instead of being led or managed by other counties, and the ROK should realize that.

The author is a research scholar with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce.