Wen calls for calm over ship sinking
Source: Xinhua |
May 31, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PREMIER Wen Jiabao yesterday called for the proper handling of the serious consequences of the March sinking of a South Korean warship and efforts to gradually ease tensions in the region over the incident.
"The pressing task for the moment is to properly handle the serious impact caused by the Cheonan incident, defuse tensions in the region and, most importantly of all, avoid possible conflicts," he said.
Wen was speaking at a joint press conference following a two-day summit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the South Korean island of Jeju.
"We must spare no effort to promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia," the Chinese premier said.
"Short of this precondition, development will be out of the question and hard-won achievements will be lost again.
"China will continue to enhance communication with relevant parties (over the Cheonan incident) in order to steer the situation toward a direction which is conducive to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
"This is in our best common and long-term interests."
As the region is facing many new challenges, China, Japan and South Korea should strengthen coordination, deal with sensitive issues and increase political trust, Wen said.
He expressed his condolences to the victims of the Cheonan incident and sympathy to their families.
On March 26, South Korean naval vessel the Cheonan, with 104 crew members on board, sank off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, killing 46 sailors.
On May 20, the South Korean government released results of a multinational inquiry, which concluded the Cheonan was torpedoed by a North Korean submarine. Pyongyang has rejected the charge and warned that any retaliation would lead to an "all-out war."
Lee said the three leaders agreed to continue discussing the disaster.
"I expect Japan and China, as very responsible members of the international community, to wisely cooperate in the handling of this matter," Lee said.
Hatoyama said the three nations had "a common view that (the ship sinking) is a serious matter for peace and stability in Northeast Asia."
Lee told Wen and Hatoyama: "I know there are concerns that regional security is unstable due to the Cheonan incident. We are not afraid of war, but we don't want it."
Wen, Lee and Hatoyama agreed to form a permanent secretariat to facilitate tripartite cooperation.
The secretariat will be set up in 2011 and based in South Korea.
The leaders also reached consensus on issues such as expanding cooperation in trade, investment, finance and environmental protection.
Lee and Hatoyama made it clear that the interests of the three countries had become more interwoven.
They said increased cooperation would benefit people and promote peace, stability and prosperity.
The three leaders agreed that a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula would be conducive to achieving lasting peace, security and prosperity in Northeastern Asia.
They pledged to continue to work together via the six-party talks.
The summit set 2012 as a target date for wrapping up a joint feasibility study on the proposed free trade area among the three countries.
"The pressing task for the moment is to properly handle the serious impact caused by the Cheonan incident, defuse tensions in the region and, most importantly of all, avoid possible conflicts," he said.
Wen was speaking at a joint press conference following a two-day summit with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the South Korean island of Jeju.
"We must spare no effort to promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia," the Chinese premier said.
"Short of this precondition, development will be out of the question and hard-won achievements will be lost again.
"China will continue to enhance communication with relevant parties (over the Cheonan incident) in order to steer the situation toward a direction which is conducive to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
"This is in our best common and long-term interests."
As the region is facing many new challenges, China, Japan and South Korea should strengthen coordination, deal with sensitive issues and increase political trust, Wen said.
He expressed his condolences to the victims of the Cheonan incident and sympathy to their families.
On March 26, South Korean naval vessel the Cheonan, with 104 crew members on board, sank off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, killing 46 sailors.
On May 20, the South Korean government released results of a multinational inquiry, which concluded the Cheonan was torpedoed by a North Korean submarine. Pyongyang has rejected the charge and warned that any retaliation would lead to an "all-out war."
Lee said the three leaders agreed to continue discussing the disaster.
"I expect Japan and China, as very responsible members of the international community, to wisely cooperate in the handling of this matter," Lee said.
Hatoyama said the three nations had "a common view that (the ship sinking) is a serious matter for peace and stability in Northeast Asia."
Lee told Wen and Hatoyama: "I know there are concerns that regional security is unstable due to the Cheonan incident. We are not afraid of war, but we don't want it."
Wen, Lee and Hatoyama agreed to form a permanent secretariat to facilitate tripartite cooperation.
The secretariat will be set up in 2011 and based in South Korea.
The leaders also reached consensus on issues such as expanding cooperation in trade, investment, finance and environmental protection.
Lee and Hatoyama made it clear that the interests of the three countries had become more interwoven.
They said increased cooperation would benefit people and promote peace, stability and prosperity.
The three leaders agreed that a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula would be conducive to achieving lasting peace, security and prosperity in Northeastern Asia.
They pledged to continue to work together via the six-party talks.
The summit set 2012 as a target date for wrapping up a joint feasibility study on the proposed free trade area among the three countries.
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