At the invitation of President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China, President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea paid a state visit to China from May 27 to 30, 2008 and was accorded a grand and warm reception by the Chinese Government and people.

During the visit, President Hu Jintao had talks with President Lee Myung-bak. President Lee Myung-bak also met with Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council and Chairman Jia Qinglin of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

President Lee Myung-bak expressed deep condolences and sympathy to the great loss of life and property caused by the earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province and offered to provide necessary help to China's disaster relief effort. President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders expressed sincere thanks to the ROK Government and people for their care and timely help such as sending a rescue team. Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on handling natural disasters such as earthquake, tsunami and typhoon.

During the talks and meetings, the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views and reached extensive agreement on further developing China-ROK friendly relations and cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

I. Further Developing Bilateral Relations

The two sides applauded the rapid growth of their relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. They both agreed to raise their comprehensive and cooperative partnership to the level of strategic cooperative partnership and step up exchanges and cooperation in the diplomatic, security, economic, social, cultural, people-to-people and other areas.

Both sides believed that dialogue and cooperation in the diplomatic and security areas should be further strengthened and agreed to establish a high-level strategic dialogue mechanism between the two foreign ministries and develop the existing diplomatic security dialogue into a mechanism.

The two sides decided to increase the exchanges between their leaders, government agencies, parliaments and political parties.

The Chinese side reiterated that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The ROK side expressed its full understanding of and respect for China's position and reaffirmed its position that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that it upholds the one China principle.

II. Expanding Economic Cooperation and Trade

The two sides agreed to adjust and enrich the Joint Research Report on China-ROK Mid-to-Long Term Development Plan on Economic Cooperation and Trade issued by the leaders of the two countries in 2005 to reflect the new progress on bilateral economic cooperation and trade which will serve as the basis for further practical cooperation in this field.

The two sides commended the smooth progress of the joint study on China-ROK FTA by government agencies, industries and academia and agreed to build on past achievements and continue the research to push forward the bilateral FTA for win-win result.

The two sides welcomed the amendment and issuance of the Treaty on Investment Protection Between China and the ROK and agreed that the Treaty is conducive to protecting and expanding two-way investment and is in line with the development of the mutually beneficial business relations.