ID :
94671
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 01:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/94671
The shortlink copeid
Chinese VP hopes to see S. Korea-China FTA
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Saturday he
would like to see a free trade agreement (FTA) between his country and South
Korea in the near future.
Xi, widely seen as in line to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2012, made the
remark in a meeting here with South Korean and Japanese journalists during which
he stressed the importance of cooperation between the three countries. China is
South Korea's largest trading partner.
"A Korea-China FTA would drive momentum to improve bilateral ties between the two
countries," Xi said, two days ahead of his four-nation Asian tour. He will visit
Japan, South Korea, Cambodia and Myanmar from Dec. 14-22.
"According to a joint research report, the two nations (China and South Korea)
mostly agree, but there are some differences of opinion," Xi said, stressing a
deal would need to consider each country's strengths.
In 2008, trade between the two nations reached US$168.3 billion, with Korean
exports accounting for $91.4 billion.
"Korea, China and Japan are neighboring countries that have exchanged culture and
a shared history. This creates a favorable environment to push forward with
cooperation," Xi said. "Trilateral cooperation could help join the East Asian
community, which corresponds with the interests of Asians and the global
community."
About a month after the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in
September, the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan held a trilateral summit
to discuss ways to reinforce ties between their countries.
"We have to take this historic opportunity to expand cooperation," Xi said.
Regarding the stalled six-party talks that aim to denuclearize North Korea --
which Beijing chairs and also involve the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Russia --
Xi called for each country to make cooperative efforts to resume the negotiations
soon.
Xi will visit Seoul on Wednesday for three days, during which he will meet with
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and senior government officials, in his
first trip to South Korea as vice president.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
would like to see a free trade agreement (FTA) between his country and South
Korea in the near future.
Xi, widely seen as in line to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2012, made the
remark in a meeting here with South Korean and Japanese journalists during which
he stressed the importance of cooperation between the three countries. China is
South Korea's largest trading partner.
"A Korea-China FTA would drive momentum to improve bilateral ties between the two
countries," Xi said, two days ahead of his four-nation Asian tour. He will visit
Japan, South Korea, Cambodia and Myanmar from Dec. 14-22.
"According to a joint research report, the two nations (China and South Korea)
mostly agree, but there are some differences of opinion," Xi said, stressing a
deal would need to consider each country's strengths.
In 2008, trade between the two nations reached US$168.3 billion, with Korean
exports accounting for $91.4 billion.
"Korea, China and Japan are neighboring countries that have exchanged culture and
a shared history. This creates a favorable environment to push forward with
cooperation," Xi said. "Trilateral cooperation could help join the East Asian
community, which corresponds with the interests of Asians and the global
community."
About a month after the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in
September, the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan held a trilateral summit
to discuss ways to reinforce ties between their countries.
"We have to take this historic opportunity to expand cooperation," Xi said.
Regarding the stalled six-party talks that aim to denuclearize North Korea --
which Beijing chairs and also involve the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Russia --
Xi called for each country to make cooperative efforts to resume the negotiations
soon.
Xi will visit Seoul on Wednesday for three days, during which he will meet with
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and senior government officials, in his
first trip to South Korea as vice president.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
