Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday called for those in the Six-Party
Talks on the Korean nuclear issue to take serious steps in
implementing their commitment to the principle of "action for
action", to boost the process of denuclearizing the Korean
Peninsula.
Wen was speaking at a meeting with visiting Prime Minister Han
Duck-soo of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Beijing. Both China and
the ROK are important members of the six-nation talks, which also
involve the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK), Russia and Japan.
"To steadily promote the Six-Party Talks conforms to the common
aspirations of the international community," Wen said, adding that
China is willing to coordinate and cooperate closely with the ROK
in moving towards a nuclear-free peninsula.
Han expressed his appreciation of China's role as a chair in the
multilateral talks, saying that his country will work with China to
promote the denuclearization effort so as to ensure peace and
stability in the Korean Peninsula as well as Northeast Asia.
Pyongyang has agreed to dismantle and account for its nuclear
activities by the end of the year.
US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said last week he was pleased
with the progress, while US President George W. Bush sent a letter
to DPRK leader Kim Jong-il last week urging his government to fully
disclose its nuclear programs, the White House said.
China is currently consulting with other parties on the date of
the next round of the talks, according to the Foreign Ministry.
On bilateral ties, Wen said relations between China and the ROK
have undergone "comprehensive and in-depth" development since the
two countries established diplomatic ties 15 years ago.
China hopes the two sides can enhance partnership in
environmental protection, energy, finance and logistics, and speed
up studies on establishing the free trade area between them and
expanding mutual investment, Wen said.
Han agreed with Wen, saying that his country will actively push
for the growth of comprehensive cooperation between the two
countries and seek mutual benefits.
In one development, the ROK's Hana Financial Holdings announced
on Sunday it has forged a tie-up with the Bank of Jilin in Jilin
Province as part of efforts to expand in the Asian market.
The strategic alliance, which the two lenders agreed to in China
last Friday, will eventually allow Hana, the third-largest lender
in the ROK , to invest in Jilin.
Similarly, Kia Motors Corp, the ROK's No 2 automaker, said on
Saturday it aims to double its sales in China next year with the
help of its second factory in the world's second-largest car
market.
(China Daily December 11, 2007)
