Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with South Korea's
National Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung on Wednesday and both sides
pledged to further bilateral ties.
Wen, who arrived in Seoul on Tuesday morning for his first visit
as premier to South Korea, said China is ready to join efforts with
South Korea to further deepen the Sino-South Korean comprehensive
cooperative partnership.
Since China and South Korea are both important countries in
northeast Asia, enhanced bilateral relations between the two
countries conform to the fundamental interests of both peoples, and
are conducive to regional peace and stability, Wen said.
Exchange between the two countries' legislatures is a very
important aspect of bilateral ties, Wen said, adding that the
national assemblies of both countries have successfully launched a
regular exchange mechanism.
For his part, Lim said South Korea hopes to strengthen economic
and trade ties with China in a bid to contribute to the prosperity
of northeast Asia.
As partners of all-round cooperation, South Korea and China
enjoy close communications in politics, economy and culture, and
have achieved tremendous progress, he said, adding that South Korea
is willing to enhance economic and trade ties with China.
?
On the same day, Wen also met with Uri Party speaker Jong
Sae-kyun and the Grand National Party representative Kang Jae-sop.
Wen said China supports exchanges between the two countries'
parties, which have played an important role in developing
bilateral ties.
Wen will travel to Japan later on Wednesday on what he has
described as an "ice-thawing" tour.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2007)
