China's Wen proposes early start of free trade talks with S. Korea

FUKUOKA, Dec. 13 Kyodo - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on
Saturday that the two countries start negotiations on a bilateral free trade
agreement at an early date, the South Korean presidential office said.
Lee, in turn, emphasized the need for the two economies to expand trade, the
office said. The two leaders met at a hotel in Fukuoka City on the sidelines of
a trilateral summit also involving Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.
Lee and Wen also agreed to work closely on fighting the global financial
turmoil and resolving the North Korean nuclear and other issues, the office
said.
On the stalled six-party negotiations aimed at denuclearizing North Korea, Wen
was quoted as saying he hopes that a proposal will be made soon that is
acceptable to all parties so that the talks can make headway.
The latest round of the six-way talks in Beijing, also involving Japan, Russia
and the United States, fell short of achieving the goal of documenting ways to
verify North Korea's nuclear programs.
Lee expressed appreciation for China's move to expand a currency swap line for
South Korea, according to the office.
He also said that South Korea and China should beef up cooperation to ensure
that the voices of emerging economies are heard in the reform process for the
international financial system, the office said.
==Kyodo
2008-12-13 21:30:38