S. Korean, Chinese leaders agree to boost economic ties, cooperation on N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao agreed Saturday to deepen economic ties between their
countries with the goal of doubling trade by 2015, and to strengthen joint
efforts to denuclearize North Korea through dialogue.
Lee asked for China's continued leadership as the chair of the six-nation forum
on ending North Korea's nuclear development in his talks with the Chinese leader,
Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.
"The leaders reaffirmed the six-party talks were the most effective measure for
the solution of the North Korean nuclear issue and agreed to continue their joint
efforts for an early resumption of the talks," Cheong Wa Dae said in a press
release.
North Korea in April quit the nuclear forum -- which also involve the United
States, Japan and Russia -- in April following a U.N. condemnation of its
long-range rocket launch. The communist state then conducted its second atomic
test in May, prompting additional sanctions from the U.N. Security Council.
The Lee-Wen meeting followed the Chinese premier's visit to Pyongyang earlier
this week, during which he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and was told
the North may rejoin the six-way dialogue depending on the outcome of anticipated
bilateral talks with the U.S.
"Premier Wen explained the outcome of his visit to North Korea on Oct. 4-6, and
President Lee noted his efforts for the solution of the North Korean nuclear
issue," the Cheong Wa Dae statement said.
The South Korean president sought China's support for his recent "grand bargain"
proposal on denuclearizing North Korea, according to South Korean officials
accompanying him.
The proposal, made during Lee's trip to the United Nations last month, seeks to
irreversibly dismantle North Korea's key nuclear facilities in one single step,
instead of in phases, in exchange for a massive package of incentives to be put
together by the five other nations in the nuclear talks.
The leaders also sought to strengthen economic ties between their countries,
endorsing a joint report that calls for the expansion of bilateral trade to
US$300 billion by 2015 from the current $145 billion.
"President Lee and Premier Wen noted the relationship between their two countries
has steadily developed since it was upgraded to a 'partnership of strategic
cooperation' last year and agreed to further strengthen exchanges between the two
nations," Cheong Wa Dae said.
They also agreed to work together for a successful meeting of the G-20 economic
summit to be held in South Korea next year, it said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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