China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) yesterday agreed to expand their comprehensive partnership with the signing of four pacts after talks between visiting Premier Wen Jiabao and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun.

The agreements cover exchanges among young people, labor exports, migratory bird protection and marine search and rescue.

They also vowed to continue efforts to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear free and safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

Wen, who arrived yesterday in Seoul on a two-day official visit, the first by a Chinese premier in seven years, made a five-point proposal to strengthen bilateral relations. They are:

-- Maintaining high-level exchanges between government departments, legislative bodies and political parties.

-- Deepening economic and trade cooperation. Emphasis should be laid on environmental protection, energy saving and telecommunications.

-- Promoting exchanges of personnel and cultural activities.

-- Strengthening bilateral coordination and cooperation on regional and global affairs.

-- Handling issues of each other's concerns.

The two sides should work out a win-win plan for a China-ROK free trade area (FTA) at the earliest date," Wen said.

Responding to Wen, Roh said he expects the two governments will sign an investment protection treaty soon, and study the possibility of establishing an FTA as well as clearing barriers blocking Chinese goods from entering the ROK market.

He emphasized that the ROK "welcomes, and not worries about", China's development.

"The improvement in the Chinese people's living standards and the expansion of the Chinese market offer many opportunities to the ROK," Roh said, adding the two countries could develop together and further their common interests through high-level cooperation and fair competition.

On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Wen reaffirmed China's commitment to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula and said Beijing insists on resolving the issue through dialogue and peaceful means.

"Continued progress will be achieved in promoting the process of the Six-Party Talks so long as all relevant parties bear in mind the overall interest of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole and make unremitting efforts in that direction," Wen said.

China is keen to work together with the ROK and other parties concerned to realize long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia, he added.

Roh appreciated China's constructive role in trying to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and said the ROK and China have enjoyed close cooperation in the Six-Party Talks, which not only strengthened their bilateral ties and enhanced mutual trust but also helped set an example for resolving other issues in Northeast Asia.

Seoul is "hopeful of a settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula", he added.

Wen also held a meeting with his ROK counterpart Han Duck-soo yesterday and is scheduled to meet parliament leaders today.

No two countries have relations as close as China and the ROK in the short span of 15 years since diplomatic ties were established, Han said.

Wen travels to Japan this afternoon on what he described as an "ice-thawing journey".

(China Daily April 11, 2007)