国内英语新闻:Chinese premier promotes cooperation, good neighborliness in South Korea tour

SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Seeking to increase cooperation and good neighborliness with South Korea, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday started his three-day official visit to the country.

TO SPEED UP ESTABLISHMENT OF FTA

A key issue during the visit is to speed up the establishment of the free trade area (FTA) between the two nations.

During a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, the Chinese premier said that the FTA negotiations between China and South Korea could be launched later this year or early next year upon the completion of a feasibility study.

"When the joint feasibility study by the governments as well as industrial and academic circles is successfully completed, the two countries can inaugurate negotiations on the China-South Korea FTA in the second half of this year or the first half of next year," said Wen.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their meeting in Seoul May 28, 2010. Wen arrived in Seoul earlier Friday on his official visit to South Korea.

After their talks, Wen and Lee also witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents, including a Memorandum of Understanding about the feasibility study of the China-South Korea free trade agreement.

Earlier, Lee hosted a welcome ceremony for Wen's visit, and they held formal talks following more than one-hour smaller-group discussions.

Wen highlighted the sound development of China-South Korea trade ties, urging the two countries to make joint efforts to overcome difficulties caused by the global financial crisis and promote bilateral cooperation to a new level.

China and South Korea should strive to make bilateral trade volume meet the target of 200 billion U.S. dollars by 2012 and 300 billion U.S. dollars by 2015, said Wen.

Wen also suggested that the two countries materialize mid- and long-term trade cooperation guidelines and explore new trade cooperative fields, deepen cooperation in areas like high technology and circular economy, combat trade protectionism, expand cultural and youth exchanges, step up coordination within the framework of the Group of 20 (G20) and promote reform of the international economic governance system to make it fairer and more rational.

"China supports South Korea's efforts for hosting the G20 summit in the second half of this year," said Wen.

Wen and Lee agreed to further promote China-South Korea relations of strategic cooperation and partnership, which was established in 2008.

China and South Korea, both important countries in East Asia, have extensive common interests, and China attaches importance to its relations with South Korea, hoping the two countries could enhance communication and cooperation in a bid to benefit the two peoples and promote peace and stability in the region, Wen said.

The two countries have kept close cooperation in the process of tackling the global financial crisis and safeguarded common interests, Wen said.

President Lee said South Korea and China are both engaged in the development of relations of strategic cooperation and partnership, and that cooperation between the two countries has registered rapid progress in various fields.

The two countries, which have worked together to deal with the financial crisis and oppose trade protectionism, are maintaining the momentum of bilateral trade growth and are making important contribution to world's economic recovery, said Lee.

He said South Korea is willing to work with China to keep high-level exchange and political dialogue, further improve bilateral trade, quicken FTA construction, and enhance cooperation in such areas as clean energy, environmental protection and the development of green economy.

Lee said South Korea will coordinate with China in multilateral mechanisms like the G20.