Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Myung-bak on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking highly of the development of bilateral relations and cooperation, Wen said China and the ROK should take the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties this year as an opportunity to make closer strategic communication and strengthen mutual beneficial cooperation, so to make the bilateral ties more mature, secure and fruitful.

He also called on the two sides to make unremitting efforts for the regional peace, stability and progress.

As for the free trade negotiations that the two countries are going to start, Wen said the two sides should speed up their work in the spirit of reciprocity and try to achieve consensus as early as possible.

China welcomed ROK companies to take part in its process of economic restructuring and industrial upgrading, and encouraged Chinese companies to invest in the ROK, Wen noted.

He called on the two sides to actively build some projects including the China-ROK industrial park, a trilateral demonstration base for circular economy and economic cooperation zones among localities, and to strengthen financial cooperation.

The premier also congratulated Lee for the inauguration of an ocean-themed Expo in southern coastal city of Yeosu in the ROK, just two days ago.

Wen said China would actively participate in relevant activities of the Expo.

Lee, hailing the comprehensive and ever-growing development of the ROK-China relations, said the ROK would enhance communication and coordination with China, push forward negotiations on the free trade area, seriously implement the investment agreement among the three countries, and promote the ROK-China cooperation and regional cooperation to achieve more substantial results.

Wen also met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday afternoon, after the trilateral summit among Wen, Lee and Noda in the morning.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2012)