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Park, Xi vow closer cooperation on N.K.

Leaders agree on stronger strategic partnership on region, economy

By Lee Joo-hee and news reports

President Park Geun-hye and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday vowed to closely cooperate on North Korea’s nuclear problem and bolster bilateral ties with diversified security dialogue and mutually beneficial economic exchanges.

In their first summit, they adopted a joint communiqué containing the future direction and principles of the two countries’ relations and ways to solidify their cooperative partnership.

The statement also included their pledge to work together on solving the tension on the Korean Peninsula and on other regional and international matters.

Park arrived in Beijing in the afternoon for her four-day state visit.

She has been aiming to win support from Beijing in persuading the reclusive North to abandon its nuclear weapons and become a responsible member of the international community, by highlighting the vital role of China that remains the biggest influencer of Pyongyang.

China, which has long prioritized stability in the North as its largest economic provider, has taken sterner actions since Pyongyang’s defiant nuclear test in February that rose concerns of a potential regional arms race.

China has since backed U.N. sanctions and joined separate U.S. sanctions by suspending all transactions with the North’s Foreign Trade Bank.

Hopes for a breakthrough have been rising as diplomats of the countries of the six-party talks boost communication with each other, with North Korea making gestures for dialogue. But South Korea has so far remained pessimistic about the sincerity of Pyongyang’s overtures.

In their statement, Park and Xi highlighted four principles in Sino-South Korean relations: better mutual understanding and trust; stronger future-oriented mutual cooperation; egalitarian principles and respect for international regulations; and contribution to the regional and international communities’ peace, stability and prosperity.

The two leaders also agreed to establish close summit-level communication channels and diversified and intermediate-level strategic dialogue. Exchanges in the liberal arts, economic and social sectors will also be promoted.

“If the past summit talks consisted of comprehensive key words (for the two countries’ futures), the statement (between Park and Xi) encompasses a detailed blueprint to develop and upgrade the Korea-China relations,” said Kim Haing, presidential spokeswoman.

Encouraging progress toward a free trade deal was also a key agenda of their talks. Seoul and Beijing launched official negotiations in May last year to tear down barriers in trade between the two countries. So far, the two sides have held five rounds of talks, and a sixth round is scheduled for early July.

After the summit talks, Park and Xi greeted about 100 student and youth representatives of Korea and China to encourage their roles in expanding bilateral relations.

The two leaders then oversaw the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding including on diplomatic visa exemption, trade, marine science technology, energy conservation and R&D on application technology.

The two wrapped their schedule with a dinner hosted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People, joined by 140 Korean and Chinese participants.

On Friday, Park will meet one-on-one with two other top Chinese leaders, Premier Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People‘s Congress, to talk about ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Her visit to Beijing also includes an address at a forum of business leaders from the two countries, a speech in Chinese at a university in Beijing and a tour of South Korean firms operating in China.

On Saturday, Park flies to the western Chinese city of Xian.

Xian, an ancient capital with more than 3,000 years of history, is a base for China’s push to develop the western part of the country and is seen as having great potential as a foothold for South Korean firms trying to expand to Central Asia and Europe.

While there, Park plans to meet with leaders of the Shaanxi province for discussions on ways to increase economic cooperation and other ties between the two sides. She also plans to visit South Korean companies and cultural sites there, officials said.

A record 71 business leaders are accompanying Park on her China trip. (jhl@heraldcorp.com)