Enriched China-S Korea ties to benefit both sides and world

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye agreed in Seoul on Thursday to enrich the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, which would be a boon to both sides, the region and the world at large. [Special coverage]

During summit talks with Park, Xi said China-South Korea relations are facing an opportunity of great development, and the two sides should share development opportunities, jointly meet the challenges and deepen cooperation in a comprehensive manner.

FOUR PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE BILATERAL TIES

During the talks, Xi made a four-point proposal to enhance bilateral ties.

Regarding political security cooperation, Xi said he is willing to maintain frequent communication with Park and exchange views on major issues of common concern at any time.

The two sides should strengthen communication and enhance mutual trust through governmental, parliamentary and party-to-party communication and cooperation mechanism, Xi said.

As for economy and trade cooperation, Xi said the two sides should further expand mutual beneficial cooperation in this field.

To raise the bilateral trade volume to 300 billion U.S. Dollars by 2015, the two countries should nurture new cooperation growth points in fields such as new energy, telecommunications, intelligent manufacturing, among others, said Xi.

China is willing to set up an RMB clearance service in South Korea and hopes the two sides could speed up negotiations so as to complete their free trade talks before the end of this year.

China, Xi said, welcome South Korean enterprises to intensify investment in central and western China.

As to people-to-people exchanges, Xi said both countries will celebrate the Year of Chinese Tourism in South Korea in 2015 and the Year of South Korean Tourism in China in 2016.

To elevate bilateral personnel exchanges to 10 million in 2016, Xi suggested the two sides waive visa for service passport holders and offer visa waivers for short-time travelers between the two sides..

Regarding to regional and international cooperation, Xi said China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with South Korea in establishing an Asian infrastructure investment bank and advancing the plan for creating an Asia-Pacific free trade area.

The two countries, he said, could jointly hold memorial activities next year on the occasions of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Fascist War, of the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan's colonial rule.

The Chinese president arrived here Thursday for a two-day state visit to South Korea, his first trip to the Asian neighbor since he took office last year.