Chinese President Hu Jintao, arrived in South Korea this morning for talks on expanding bilateral trade and ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
Hu's two-day visit comes less than 24 hours after the closing of the Beijing Olympics and as regional powers press North Korea to accept a nuclear inspection system as part of a disarmament deal the secretive North struck with five countries.
"We believe the visit will be a turning point in the two countries' relationship, which has been primarily an economic one, to expand into all areas, including politics, defence and culture," an official at the South Korean presidential Blue House said at the weekend.
The two sides have discussed a free-trade deal, but Seoul has been wary of initiating formal talks because of the potential flood of cheap farm products. It is not on the summit agenda.
China, the North's main benefactor, is also South Korea's largest trading partner with $145 billion in annual two-way trade, according to official South Korean data.
In late June, North Korea presented a long-delayed account of its nuclear weapons programme at six-nation talks, hosted by China, that contained information about its plutonium production.
Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea are also members of the six-way talks on the North's nuclear programme.
Reuters
