Expanding Korea-China
Relations
Chinese Amb. Ning Fukui praises ties between Korea and China
Chinese Amb. to Seoul Ning Fukui said both South Korea and China are important nations in Northeast Asia with their historic relations going back a long time to Tang and Han China periods. Since the two countries exchanged ambassadors in 1992, the two countries entered a period of rapid development in their bilateral relations ranging from politics, economy, military, culture science-technology, and education and to the exchange of personnel, to name just a few areas. The top Chinese diplomat in Seoul made the remarks at the 212th Top CEOs Breakfast Meeting hosted by the Korean Standard Association on November 17. He went on to say that the two countries achieved an outstanding development in the areas of the economy and trade unprecedented in their histories. The trade and economic partnership relations of the two countries, which are crucial to both countries, have been deepening to the extent that China has become the largest trading country for Korea and the biggest export market, and investment destination. China also is the second largest importer of Korean goods, while Korea has become China? fourth largest trading partner and the third largest investor in China.
The Chinese ambassador noted that Korea and China maintain a superb cooperative relations in the international arena as members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), in addition to the Yellow Sea rim and the Bohai Economic Sphere. Ning recalled that Korea declared that it recognizes China? status as a market economy on November 16 and he firmly believes that the move will go a long way toward creating a better condition for the two countries?cooperation in the economic and trade relations, paving the way for an early achievement of $200 billion in two-way trade between Korea and China by 2012.
Following the progress in the economic and trade areas, the bilateral cooperation in other areas has been showing signs of closer relations including military, culture, education, and human exchange, among others. Korean performers have been enjoying rising popularity among all ages of Chinese fans, along with such Korean products as mobile phones, and monitors. An increasing number of Korean students learn the Chinese language as their first foreign language and bilateral relations between Korea and China have become multilateral through rapid development, deepening the mutual reliance on a continued basis.
Korea and China have friendly political relations, geographical affinity and similar culture and the complementary nature of their economic relations is strong. If the two countries strengthen their exchange and cooperation in the spirit of continued cooperation and mutual development, their friendly and cooperative relations will gain a wider and deepening development in the future, the ambassador claimed. He said he is particularly confident in further development of the bilateral economic and trade relations when looking at the future prospect of their ties. Mutual cooperation must be strengthened for mutual development, Ning said, adding that the Chinese government will provide areas for cooperation and better systematic environment as much as possible for entrepreneurs in both countries. nw

Chinese Amb. to Seoul Ning Fukui