China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have agreed to expand partnership by signing four pacts after talks between visiting Premier Wen Jiabao and ROK President Roh Moo-hyun. The agreements cover exchanges among young people, labor exports, migratory bird protection and marine search and rescue, state media reported. They also vowed to continue efforts to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free and safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Wen, in the first visit by a Chinese premier in seven years, made a five-point proposal that included maintaining high-level exchanges between government departments, legislative bodies and political parties, strengthening economic and trade cooperation, promoting exchange of cultural activities, strengthening regional affairs and handling issues of each other's concerns. The two governments will also sign an investment protection treaty soon to study the possibility of establishing a free-trade agreement as well as clearing barriers blocking Chinese goods from entering the ROK market.
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