Seoul, Beijing to work closer on N.K. nukes By: www.koreaherald.co.kr | ||||||
President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping yesterday pledged combined efforts toward the denuclearization of North Korea. "The president expressed gratitude to China for playing a big role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue as the chair of the six-nation talks," said Park Sun-kyu, the presidential spokesman, in a briefing on their talks at Cheong Wa Dae. The president furthermore emphasized that he hopes for China to play an even bigger role in 2010 as it is likely to become a watershed year for solving the North Korean issue, as Pyongyang has recently shown willingness to return to denuclearization talks. Xi responded that the two nations should capitalize on their current good relations to help develop the political situation on the Korean Peninsula in a positive direction, Park said. The Chinese vice president also solicited South Korea's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations to play a pivotal role in restarting the six-party dialogue and relieving peninsular tension. Xi notably mentioned the "Grand Bargain" proposal that Lee made towards the North as being one of the resolutions to the North Korean nuclear problem.
Pyongyang in May conducted its second nuclear test; the first took place in October 2006. Xi's visit - the first by a Chinese vice president in more than a decade - comes only a week after Washington and Pyongyang agreed on the need to revive the six-party dialogue aimed at ending the North's nuclear ambitions. The partners of the multilateral discussions now appear to be coordinating on the conditions North Korea reportedly demanded as a quid pro quo for returning to the talks it has been boycotting since April when the United Nations Security Council denounced its rocket launch. Beijing, as both a close ally to Pyongyang and chair of the six-nation negotiations, bears a significant role in the denuclearization process. Its decision to participate in tougher U.N. sanctions was cited by some as the push that was needed to get the North to return to international negotiating tables. Xi's visit has an added political sheen, Foreign Ministry officials here said, because he is cited as the heir apparent to China's presidency after President Hu Jintao steps down in 2012. The ministry gave Xi a warm and formal welcome, with the next ambassador to China Yu Woo-ik acting as chaperone. Xi's entourage also was impressive, consisting of more than 50 officials including Wu Dawei, China's Vice Foreign Minister and chief nuclear negotiator to the six-nation talks. Lee and Xi yesterday noted the "steady progress" bilateral relations have shown under the "strategic cooperative partnership" struck in 2008. In efforts to further the relationship, the two said they would closely cooperate to successfully host upcoming international events such as the G20 financial summit scheduled to be held in Seoul next year, the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China and the 2012 Yeosu Expo in South Korea. Prior to his nine-day Asian tour, Xi had called on the need for South Korea and China to expedite a free trade agreement. He also supported the creation of an East Asian Community, as proposed by Japan earlier. The vice president yesterday also met with Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o and South Korean business representatives. He is scheduled to hold a breakfast meeting with members of the Korea-China Friendship Association this morning and later on meet with officials from both the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party before heading to the city of Gyeongju, an ancient capital famed for its historic treasures. Xi will depart for Myanmar tomorrow and wrap up his trip in Cambodia. (jemmie@heraldm.com) By Kim Ji-hyun |
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