Yesterday, Premier Wen Jiabao met with the South Korean prime minister and urged all involved in the six-party talks on the Korean peninsular nuclear issue to show more flexibility and sincerity in working for their early resumption.

Lee Hae-Chan arrived in Beijing earlier on Tuesday on a three-day visit, his first since taking post, and spoke positively of China's role in international and regional affairs.

Wen said China would continue its efforts and maintain close cooperation with South Korea on restarting the talks, adding that both are important countries in the region and should further exert influence to promote regional cooperation for common prosperity.

As all the relevant parties are making efforts for the talks' resumption, he said China believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only option for resolving the issues involved.

The Chinese side will work with South Korea to ensure further development of bilateral relations, said Wen.

He said a long-term plan for setting up a free trade area was needed, that cooperation in spheres such as high technology and infrastructure construction should be widened, and that bilateral trade issues, including trade imbalance and market access for Chinese imports, should be resolved.

Lee said a stronger partnership was in the interests of both sides and that bilateral economic and trade cooperation has witnessed sustained growth with broad prospects since the forging of diplomatic ties 13 years ago.

He said his government attaches importance to the imbalance in bilateral trade and will take further measures to address the issue.

Lee is also scheduled to meet with President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo whilst he is here.

In 2004, trade volume between China and South Korea reached US$90 billion, a year-on-year increase of 42.4 percent. It is expected to exceed US$100 billion this year.

China is South Korea's largest trade partner and South Korea is China's fourth largest.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2005)