Chinese Trade Minister Meets ROK Trade, Foreign Minister

Shi Guangsheng, Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, met Friday with Lee Joung-Binn, foreign and trade minister of the Republic of Korea, and the two ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on further promoting bilateral trade relations.

Shi said that the two economies are highly complementary, noting that remarkable progress has been registered in bilateral trade, mutual investment and economic and technological cooperation in recent years.

"We are happy to see that the ROK has tided over the impact of the Asian financial crisis with fast economic growth," Shi said, stressing that this has provided a strong backing for facilitating a sound and balanced growth of trade between the two countries.

The ROK minister shared Shi's view on two-way trade, saying that he is satisfied with the rapid development of trade relations in recent years. And the bilateral trade promises great benefits and potential for both, he noted.

ROK is interested in China's strategy to develop its west, Lee said. An investment study mission made up of ROK officials and businesspeople will visit China's western region in May to explore potential fields of cooperation there, he stated.

Shi hoped that ROK investors would play an active role in developing China's west.

The ROK foreign and trade minister arrived here Thursday on a three-day visit at the invitation of China's Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.



Please visit People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/