Seoul
(AsiaNews) - A joint action against nuclear proliferation
on the Korean peninsula, a "new
covenant" in with anti-Japanese
undertones and a "substantial
strengthening" of the bilateral trade balance. Along with this, the
possible presence of Xi Jinping
in Seoul for Liberation Day (August 15), in conjunction with the presence
of Pope Francis.
These are the results of two days of meetings between the Chinese president and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye. The meeting which concluded today in Seoul is the
first time for at least 25 years
that a Chinese leader has chosen
to visit the south of the
peninsula before the North. Beijing
is Pyongyang's last
remaining ally, but
relations between the two states have gradually cooled over
the past two years.
Xi and Park had three private bilateral meetings, but the lion's share was settled by the trade
delegations accompanying the two presidents. The most important results are the final signature of
the free trade agreement between China and
South Korea, the launch of a currency trade that will
lead to the direct exchange between
the yuan and the won
and improved food security in
import-export. Minor deals include "improved business cooperation" and the commitment
to "strengthen" cultural
exchanges through student and
university exchanges.
From the diplomatic point of view,
however, Beijing and Seoul seem to have a new found warmth in relations. Xi
Jinping, speaking in Seoul, said that " Japanese militarists carried out barbarous wars
of aggression against China and Korea, swallowing up Korea and occupying half
of the Chinese mainland".
Xi then proposed
to "celebrate" Liberation Day, which
traditionally in East Asia falls on August 15. If the invitation were to be accepted and
put into practice already this
year, the Chinese President might be in South Korea on the same days as Pope Francis, who will be in the
midst of an apostolic visit to the peninsula
(August 14 to 18). But it is more
likely that the first joint anniversary will be celebrated in 2015, the year that marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the
defeat of Japan.
Harsh tones were also
addressed to North Korea, which has
welcomed the announcement of Xi
Jinping's visit to Seoul with the launch of two short-range
missiles into the Sea of Japan.
According to Park "in today's summit the two leaders agreed that
the denuclearisation of North Korea should be realised by all means and agreed
that [we[ resolutely oppose a nuclear test." The Chinese
leader was more cautious: " the Korean peninsula faced
uncertainty and the concerns of different parties should be balanced and issues
resolved through negotiations on an equal basis ".