On November 19, 2012, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with ROK President Lee Myung-bak in Phnom Penh.

Wen said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago, China-ROK relations have been developing continuously on the basis of mutual respect and understanding, accommodating each other's core interests, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, which not only benefits the two peoples, but also contributes to regional peace, stability, prosperity.

Wen said as the global and regional situation remains complicated and the world economy is faced with increasing pressure, strengthening bilateral cooperation is conducive to maintaining economic growth of both sides and to the early recovery of world economy. China will continue to attach importance to bilateral relations from a strategic height and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with the ROK to enhance mutual trust and jointly promote new progress of cooperation in various fields. Wen said the two sides should accelerate talks on bilateral FTA to strive to reach an agreement as soon as possible and provide a fair, open and transparent environment for business cooperation. It is believed that through unremitting efforts, both sides will fulfill the target of 300 billion U.S. dollars for the 2015 bilateral trade volume.

Lee said the two countries have treated each other with sincerity, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation and have worked together to address challenges. The bilateral relations have made considerable progress, safeguarding regional peace and stability. He highly applauded China's sound economic growth against the background of global economic slowdown, adding the ROK is willing to enhance cooperation with China to promote FTA, expand trade scale, oppose trade protectionism and promote regional cooperation.

Lee congratulated the CPC on the successful conclusion of the 18th CPC National Congress, and expressed his desire of a good cooperation with China's new leadership so as to push forward the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership.

With regard to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wen said it is the common wish of all parties concerned to maintain peace and ease tensions. China supports the South and the North of the Korean Peninsula to improve relations. China hopes that the parties concerned will continue to proceed from the overall situation and long-term development, adhere to dialogue and contacts and show goodwill to create and accumulate opportunities of resumption of the six-party talks and to ease the tension in the region. China will continue to play a constructive role for the realization of lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region at large.

Lee introduced the relevant positions of the ROK, saying his country attaches importance to and appreciates China's important role in the Korean Peninsula affairs. The ROK will keep in touch with China on this matter.