S Korea welcomes Chinese PMWen to focus on N Korea, stronger ties in Seoul visit
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
CHINESE Premier Wen Jiabao held talks yesterday with South Korean leaders focused on strengthening economic links, including a possible free trade pact and ending the North Korean nuclear impasse.
Wen, whose country fought with the North against the South in the 1950-53 Korean War, praised an "unprecedented" improvement in relations since Beijing extended diplomatic recognition to Seoul 15 years ago.
The Chinese premier attended the opening ceremony for Korea-China Friendship Year, marking the anniversary this August of an event which was a milestone for South Korea but a bitter blow to China's ally, North Korea.
Since 1992, "the two states have been expanding exchanges in political, economic and cultural fields at an unprecedented pace," Wen told his opposite number, Han Duck-soo through an interpreter.
"I hope bilateral ties will continuously develop."
Han extended a "heartfelt welcome" to Wen, whose country is now South Korea's largest trading partner. Total trade reached US$130 billion last year, according to Chinese figures.
After the United States and South Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA), Wen called last week for a similar pact between Beijing and Seoul.
"China and South Korea should come up with a win-win FTA proposal at an early date so as to pave the way for the FTA," he said at the time.
Wen and President Roh Moo-hyun later discussed the issue, along with strengthening practical economic cooperation and joint inroads into third-country markets, a presidential official said.
"Regarding the North Korean nuclear problem, the two leaders discussed China's constructive role, Seoul-Beijing coordination and a future vision for Northeast Asia," said the official quoted by Yonhap news agency. The two countries want to see progress in six-nation talks on scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons, which are stalled by a banking dispute. Each provides crucial economic support to the North.
Wen and Roh also observed the signing of four treaties on the protection of migratory birds, cooperation in marine rescue operations, youth exchanges and more Chinese workers in South Korea.
The two nations have no major disputes apart from a row over history. There was an uproar in South Korea last year when the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences published reports arguing that Korea's Balhae kingdom (699- 926 AD) was a vassal state of China.
Wen is accompanied by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, among other officials. He will meet party leaders in parliament Wednesday before starting a three-day visit to Japan.AFP
Wen, whose country fought with the North against the South in the 1950-53 Korean War, praised an "unprecedented" improvement in relations since Beijing extended diplomatic recognition to Seoul 15 years ago.
The Chinese premier attended the opening ceremony for Korea-China Friendship Year, marking the anniversary this August of an event which was a milestone for South Korea but a bitter blow to China's ally, North Korea.
Since 1992, "the two states have been expanding exchanges in political, economic and cultural fields at an unprecedented pace," Wen told his opposite number, Han Duck-soo through an interpreter.
"I hope bilateral ties will continuously develop."
Han extended a "heartfelt welcome" to Wen, whose country is now South Korea's largest trading partner. Total trade reached US$130 billion last year, according to Chinese figures.
After the United States and South Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA), Wen called last week for a similar pact between Beijing and Seoul.
"China and South Korea should come up with a win-win FTA proposal at an early date so as to pave the way for the FTA," he said at the time.
Wen and President Roh Moo-hyun later discussed the issue, along with strengthening practical economic cooperation and joint inroads into third-country markets, a presidential official said.
"Regarding the North Korean nuclear problem, the two leaders discussed China's constructive role, Seoul-Beijing coordination and a future vision for Northeast Asia," said the official quoted by Yonhap news agency. The two countries want to see progress in six-nation talks on scrapping North Korea's nuclear weapons, which are stalled by a banking dispute. Each provides crucial economic support to the North.
Wen and Roh also observed the signing of four treaties on the protection of migratory birds, cooperation in marine rescue operations, youth exchanges and more Chinese workers in South Korea.
The two nations have no major disputes apart from a row over history. There was an uproar in South Korea last year when the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences published reports arguing that Korea's Balhae kingdom (699- 926 AD) was a vassal state of China.
Wen is accompanied by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, among other officials. He will meet party leaders in parliament Wednesday before starting a three-day visit to Japan.AFP
Business Besides Oil
