SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday said his government will help expand cooperation between world Chinese and South Korean business people.

    Roh made the remarks while delivering congratulatory speech at the 8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference (WCEC), which opened here on Monday.

    Reviewing the development of Sino-South Korean trade relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, Roh said "Bilateral trade has increased as much as 12 times and China is now South Korea's largest trading partner."

    The South Korean president hoped that the bilateral cooperativeties can be extended to all overseas Chinese business communities as well.

    After introducing the economic situation in South Korea, the president said South Korea's automobile, shipbuilding and steel industries are very competitive in the world and the progress made by the information and biological technology sector is also remarkable.

    He said his government has committed to attracting foreign investment by improving environment for foreigners.

    He assured the participants that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula will not block their investment in South Korea, citing the progress of the latest round of the six-party talks aimed to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

    The South Korean president wished that South Korea's human resources and technological expertise and world Chinese entrepreneurs' capital and global network can pool together.

    "We can possibly venture into the markets of other countries jointly. The South Korean government will do its best to offer support," said Roh.

    Some 3,300 world Chinese entrepreneurs from some 30 countries and regions as well as South Korean business people participated in Monday's opening of this year's meeting.

    During the three-day convention, the Chinese business people and their South Korean counterparts will attend various seminars on investment, information technology, biotechnology and startup venture businesses to exchange latest information and expertise and seek trading opportunities and channels for cooperation. Enditem