BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China was ready to work
with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enrich the connotation of the bilateral
strategic cooperative partnership, China's top leaders said here on Wednesday.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and top political advisor
Jia Qinglin made the remarks in their meetings with ROK President Lee Myung-bak.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes
hands with Lee Myung-bak, president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) during
their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, on May 28, 2008. Lee Myung-bak
arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon, starting a four-day state visit to
China.(Xinhua/Li Tao) Photo
Gallery>>>
Wen
first extended his appreciation for the assistance offered by the ROK government
and people for relief efforts following the massive earthquake that hit China's
Sichuan Province on May 12.
China and ROK, as good neighbors and influential
nations in the same region, should work together in current new situations to
cope with challenges and safeguard common interests.
The two nations on Tuesday agreed to upgrade their
"comprehensive and cooperative partnership" to "strategic cooperative
partnership" during the summit talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his
ROK counterpart Lee.
Wen said the establishment of the strategic
cooperative partnership would help expand bilateral cooperation and promote the
long-term stability and prosperity of northeast Asia.
China and ROK, with fruitful cooperation in economy
and trade, still enjoy potential prospects in this area. The two nations should
speed up the research and discussion on the establishment of a free trade zone,
and make efforts to achieve win-win results, the premier said.
Wen said China welcomed ROK business to expand
investment fields in China, and especially hoped that the ROK business would
increase cooperation in China in the high tech industry and take active part in
China's development drive in the western region and China's strategy to
revitalize the country's northeast.
China would also encourage domestic companies to
develop the market and make investment in the ROK, he noted.
Lee said the assistance offered to the earthquake-hit
region indicated the ROK's sincerity as a friendly neighbor of China. The ROK
side was ready to provide support to China within its capacity.
The president believed the Chinese people would be
sure to win the battle against the disaster.
Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the
National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference, shakes hands with Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of
Korea (ROK) during a meeting in Beijing, China, on May 28, 2008. (Xinhua)
(axy/why) Photo
Gallery>>>
Lee
said in a meeting with Jia Qinglin, National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman, that he would visit the
earthquake-hit region in the southwest Sichuan Province.
The president hoped the two nations would grasp the
opportunity of establishing a strategic cooperative partnership to continue
keeping high-level contacts and deepening cooperation in various fields.
Lee said he would attend the opening ceremony of the
Beijing Olympic Games in August.
He applauded China's efforts in pushing for six party
talks in the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and in safeguarding regional peace
and stability.
Jia told Lee that the establishment of the strategic
cooperative partnership between the two countries was of great importance to the
further growth of bilateral ties.
China would work with the ROK to increase mutual
trust, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, promote cultural and youth
exchange, safeguard regional peace and stability, in a bid to lift the bilateral
ties into a new level, Jia said.
He added the CPPCC was ready to increase exchanges
and cooperation with the ROK in effort to push forward the development of
China-ROK relations.
Lee is here on his first state visit to China since
taking office on February 25.
