(3rd LD) Lee, Xi agree on closer cooperation on N. Korea, climate change

By Lee Chi-dong
(ATTN: UPDATES with Xi's meetings with South Korean parliamentary leader, prime
minister in paras 12-17)
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping agreed Thursday to step up joint efforts to denuclearize
North Korea and stem climate change, Lee's office said.
"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
told Xi in their one-hour meeting here, according to presidential spokesman Park
Sun-kyoo.
The president noted China's role as chair of the six-party nuclear talks, the
main vehicle in efforts to dismantle the North's nuclear program and break its
diplomatic isolation.
"I think next year will be an important juncture in resolving the North Korean
nuclear issue. I hope China will play a bigger role," Lee was quoted as telling
Xi.
In response, Xi, seen as a likely successor to President Hu Jintao, said South
Korea also needs to push for inter-Korean reconciliation through dialogue and
play a decisive role in resuming the six-way talks and improving the security
condition on the peninsula, Park said.
In a brief formal conversation at Lee's office, the leaders also agreed to
strengthen the partnership between the neighboring countries for the successful
hosting of major international events, including the G-20 economic summit to be
held in Seoul next year, the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China, and the 2012 Yeosu Expo
in South Korean port city.
Afterward, the two had a breakfast meeting for about 50 minutes in which they
spent a relatively long amount of time discussing green growth, shortly before
Lee was to depart for Copenhagen to attend the U.N. Climate Change Summit.
President Lee was quoted as saying that prospects for the global fight against
climate change are not as dark as some advanced countries have forecast because
related technologies continue to be developed.
He added the U.N. summit in Copenhagen may not produce a perfect agreement, but
could serve as a good starting point.
Xi was quoted as telling Lee that China will actively participate in the world's
efforts against climate change, but that a forceful limit on economic growth is
not in its interest.
The vice president arrived here on Wednesday night for a four-day stay as part of
his regional tour. He has traveled to Japan and also plans to visit Myanmar and
Cambodia. He was accompanied by more than 50 Chinese officials including top
nuclear envoy Wu Dawei and reporters.
He later in the day held separate meetings with South Korea's National Assembly
Speaker Kim Hyong-o and Prime Minister Chung Un-chan.
The two Seoul officials called for a greater role by China in persuading North
Korea to give up its nuclear arms ambitions and return to the six-party talks,
according to a parliamentary spokesman and the prime minister's office.
Xi, during the meeting with Chung, said China will help South Korea successfully
host the G-20 economic summit and the trilateral summit involving South Korea,
China and Japan next year, the office said.
The two sides agreed on the need to strengthen exchange visits by high-level
officials to further develop "strategic partnership" relationship between the
countries and sign the free trade agreement as early as possible.
Chung, for his part, called for China's continued efforts to have North Korea
return South Korea's prisoners of war and kidnapped citizens, mostly fishermen,
and cooperation to prevent the dispute over Korea's ancient history from hurting
the two countries' amicable ties, according to Kim Chang-young, Chung's chief
spokesman.
After the talks, the Chinese official toured the "Experience Green Growth" museum
in Gwanghwamun in central Seoul and had a dinner with the South Korean prime
minister.
On Friday, Xi will travel to the ancient city of Gyeongju, some 370km southeast
of Seoul.
The South Korean government is providing top-level protocol for Xi in
consideration of his status. The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae is
providing security services for him.
Experts said Xi's visit is politically important to the future of relations
between Seoul and Beijing, adding he is arguably the frontrunner in the
presidential race in 2012.
"The main purpose of Xi's trip is to enhance his image as China's next leader and
amass diplomatic experience," Lee Nam-joo, professor at SungKongHoe University
said. "But its political significance can't be ignored in that he is a figure
(expected) to be China's leader for a decade from 2012."
lcd@yna.co.kr
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)