On November 29, 2004, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met respectively with ROK President Roh Moo-hyun and his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
When meeting with Roh Moo-hyun, Wen Jiabao pointed out that currently the overall development of China-ROK ties is smooth. Bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially in economy and trade, develops very quickly. Both sides should safeguard well this hard-won achievement for bilateral ties to advance in the right direction. Wen Jiabao proposed the following four suggestions on developing China-ROK ties. First, to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges. Second, to further expand economic and trade cooperation. Third, to push for cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges. Fourth, to strengthen communication and properly address issues of common concern.
Roh Moo-hyun agreed to Wen Jiabao's views and proposals on bilateral ties. He said that the ROK is undertaking research on how to further push forward ROK-China economic and trade cooperation in the hope that such cooperation can make greater progress. He noted that strengthening bilateral exchanges in culture and education as well as those among youngsters is of great significance to enhanced mutual understanding and the ROK will continue pushing for efforts in this regard. The ROK would like to keep closer cooperation with China in Northeast Asian regional cooperation and internal affairs.
Both sides also exchanged views on peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Wen Jiabao confirmed the policy of "peace and prosperity" adopted by the ROK and hoped that the ROK can continue adhering to the general direction of reconciliation and cooperation to improve South-North relationship. Roh Moo-hyun noted that his country highly comments on the great efforts by China to push for the process of six-party talks and hopes related parties will show flexibility so that the next round of talks can be held at an early date.
When Premier Wen met with Thaksin, both sides exchanged views mainly on China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the achievements the two countries have made in cooperation in the areas of trade, transportation, resources and energy. Both sides indicated that they will continue making efforts to expand and deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
Both sides also exchanged views on the Greater Mekong sub-regional economic cooperation. Wen Jiabao said that the Greater Mekong sub-regional economic cooperation is a priority for China-ASEAN cooperation. China will host the Second Leaders' Meeting on the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Economic Cooperation next year. We hope that the meeting can make concrete progress in pushing for cooperation in transportation, energy, telecommunications, environmental protection, agriculture, trade and investment facilitation. Thaksin noted that Thailand will conduct close coordination with China to push the meeting to make positive achievements and promote cooperation in relevant areas.