Leaders Discuss Asia Investment Pact

At a three-way talk with China and Japan on January 14 held on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting, President Roh Moo-hyun agreed with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to begin official negotiations in reaching investment agreements among the three nations.

President Roh who is visiting Cebu, the Philippines, to attend the “ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) +3 Summit,” had the three-way talk at the Shangri-la Hotel and shared the same view that the free trade agreement study among the three countries is gradually developing into a industry-academia cooperation from civil research since last year.

As for the North Korean nuclear program issue, the leaders of South Korea, China and Japan agreed to resume six-party talks as soon as possible and cooperate closely on obtaining substantial results, including implementation of the 9.19 joint statement in 2005.

Also, the three leaders agreed to establish a high level committee among foreign ministries in order to enhance cooperation on the regional issues of Northeast Asia along with global issues. A separate foreign minister-level talk is expected to be held every year as well. In addition, through an environment minister talk, the three nations will discuss thoroughly on how to solve the yellow dust problem.

Meanwhile, President Roh met Chinese Prime Minister Wen separately and proposed to speed up cooperation on mutual excavation, research and preservation work of historical remains and heritage as an attempt to settle the historical debate between the two nations.

The leaders of the “ASEAN +3 nations” summit conference delivered a statement, calling for North Korea to abandon its additional nuclear program plans and abide by its promise to denuclearize the Korean peninsular based on the 2005 agreement. Also, they agreed, “It should cope wisely with humanitarian issues which international society is expressing concerns about.” The leaders rescheduled the date to negotiate the South Korea-ASEAN service and investment agreement to November.

jyw11@donga.com