N. Korea, climate change top agenda in Lee-Xi meeting

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping, who is apparently being groomed to become the country's
next leader, exchanged candid but carefully worded views on Thursday over North
Korea's nuclear program and climate change.

In their meeting here, Lee stressed China's role in resolving the nuclear
standoff as chair of the six-way talks and Pyongyang's closest ally.
"For South Korea, China is not a mere economic partner but a very close partner
in dealing with the North Korean nuclear problem and various other issues," Lee
was quoted by his spokesman as telling Xi. "I think next year will be an
important juncture in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. I hope China will
play a bigger role."
In response, Xi said that South Korea should not remain idle in improving ties
with its northern neighbor.
"I think the South Korean side as well should improve relations with North Korea
and push for inter-Korean reconciliation, thus playing a decisive role in
restarting the six-party talks and easing tension on the Korean Peninsula," Xi
said, according to South Korea's presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
President Lee, who has taken an unyielding stance toward Pyongyang, replied, "I
plan to talk with North Korea in a serious manner that is different from the
past. I think North Korea will understand our sincerity."
Lee proposed during the meeting that the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan
discuss wide-ranging issues, including the economy, peace and security concerns,
and the environment in their annual summit.
He said during October's summit in Beijing he was briefed by Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao on the outcome of Wen's trip to Pyongyang earlier in the month.
Xi said China will help South Korea successfully host next year's trilateral summit.
Global efforts to fight climate change also topped the agenda during the meeting
between the two leaders, which included a brief formal conversation at the
presidential office Cheong Wa Dae followed by a 50-minute breakfast.
The meeting took place shortly before the South Korean leader left for Copenhagen
to attend the U.N. conference on climate change.
"Especially during breakfast, their discussion focused on environmental issues,"
Lee Dong-kwan, senior presidential secretary for public information, said.
"There seem to be differences among countries at the Copenhagen conference.
Advanced nations need to transfer capital and technology to developing ones and
help with the eradication of poverty," Xi said.
The South Korean president said he was aware of China's continued efforts to
tackle climate change and that advanced countries should assist emerging nations,
which face the two daunting tasks of recording economic growth and reducing
carbon dioxide emissions.
Xi emphasized that China, the world's most-populated country and a rising
economic powerhouse, will actively join the international drive to curb climate
change but "artificial and forceful limits on economic growth" are not desirable,
according to the presidential press secretary who said the meeting took place
amid a generally amicable mood despite the seriousness of the topics.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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