Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday that the Republic of Korea
(ROK) will continue to be one of China's key trade partners as they
are economically complementary and have great trade potential.
Wen made the remarks while meeting visiting ROK President Roh
Moo-hyun and other ROK guests.
The government of China was willing to work with the ROK to
implement the guidelines set out Monday by Roh and Chinese
President Hu Jintao on building a comprehensive cooperative
partnership and raising bilateral trade volume to US$100 billion in
five years, Wen said.
Wen said China welcomed ROK businesses to explore opportunities in
China's vast western areas and both sides should cooperate in the
fields of high-technology, resource development and environmental
protection.
Roh said he was glad to see ever closer relations in economic and
trade development between the ROK and China, and his government was
committed to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation for the
common development and prosperity of northeast Asia.
Wen said Roh Moo-hyun's visit to China was a big success.
The meeting between ROK President Roh Moo-hyun and Chinese
President Hu Jintao resulted in the establishment of a cooperative
partnership between China and the ROK, which indicated that
Sino-ROK ties had developed to a new stage, Wen said.
Roh said he had successful talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao,
and met with Chairman Wu Bangguo of the National People's Congress
Standing Committee and Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong, noting
that he was very satisfied with the positive results achieved
through the talks and meetings.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2003)