To further develop such ties, Li Changchun suggested both nations maintain high-level exchanges and expand people-to-people contacts. He also proposed to make joint efforts for combating the spreading financial crisis and initiate negotiations of free-trade agreement at an early date.(www.hXen.com)
For his part, Lee Myung Bak said he has visited China three times after he assumed the presidency. He said South Korea supports China's measures to combat the financial crisis and is willing to earnestly implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries.
Earlier, Li Changchun visited Ewha Womans University.
He said the two sides should further boost cultural exchanges.
"The two countries are close in many ways, geologically, ethnologically, and culturally. The two peoples have had a long relationship and together we have made substantial contributions to the development of regional civilization. We shall see our shared history as a solid ground upon which we continue this strategic cooperative relation that we have."
Li Changchun added he hopes Ewha Womans University will keep playing an active part in promoting bilateral cultural exchanges and friendly ties.
Ewha is the world's largest female educational institute.
One third of the country's female doctoral degree holders are Ewha graduates.
South Korea is the last leg of Li Changchun's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Australia, Myanmar and Japan.