China, ROK to step up strategic partnership
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Republic of Korea (ROK) Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik agreed in Beijing Wednesday to further the two countries' strategic and cooperative partnership and expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
When meeting with Kim, Wen spoke highly of the growth of the bilateral relations in the past 20 years, noting that the two nations have worked together to overcome difficulties brought by the global financial crisis.
"As two close neighbors important to each other, China and the ROK should proceed in a long-term and strategic perspective and take more strong measures to develop closer bilateral ties," Wen said.
China is ready to maintain dialogue and consultation at various levels with the ROK on bilateral, regional and global issues, Wen said.
He said the two countries should take each other's concerns into consideration and deepen mutual political trust and strategic coordination.
Wen expressed his confidence that two nations could register a two-way trade volume of 300 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, proposing to expand mutual investment and joint industrial research and development in an aim to score mutual benefit.
China and the ROK share huge potential for cooperation in the fields of telecommunication, shipbuilding, finance, logistics, high tech and environment, Wen said.
He also expressed the hope that the two countries launch the free trade area negotiation as scheduled, saying it a significant move to boost business confidence and promote economic integration in East Asia.
Wen also suggested the two nations host events and activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ROK diplomatic relationship and intensify cooperation in the sectors of education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the youth of the two nations.
China would support ROK's efforts to host the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu and 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Wen pledged.
On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, Wen noted that dialogue and consultation are still "the best way" to resolve the related issues.
He called on the concerned parties to strengthen their efforts to create favorable conditions to restore the stalled six-party talks at an early date and said China would play a constructive role to help address the issue.
Echoing Wen's remarks on the bilateral relations, Kim expressed his appreciation to the continuous growth of bilateral cooperation in political, economic, cultural sectors and close coordination on international and regional affairs.
The ROK is satisfied with the current growth of the bilateral relations and is committed to jointly pushing the ties to a higher level, Kim said.
Kim also said the ROK welcomes Chinese companies to invest and establish businesses in the country.
The ROK will strengthen its strategic communication with China and safeguard peace and stability in northeast Asia, Kim said.
Also on Wednesday, Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Kim, highlighting bilateral cooperation in various sectors, especially cooperation between the two parliaments.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), called on the two sides to cement friendly exchange and cooperation between the two parliaments and political parties to promote mutual understanding between the two countries and two peoples.
At the invitation of Wen, Kim arrived in China for an official visit on Tuesday. He will also attend the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in China's southern island province of Hainan.
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