Xi, Park expected to discuss curbs on nuclear weapons

The Republic of Korea's senior presidential secretary said on Wednesday that visiting President Xi Jinping and ROK President Park Geun-hye will discuss detailed measures on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during their upcoming summit talks.  [Special coverage]

Ju Chul-ki, senior foreign affairs and security adviser to Park, said at a news briefing that the two leaders will discuss detailed plans to push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Xi and Park will exchange views on cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the so-called Trust-Building Process, advocated by Park to improve inter-Korean relations by building trust between the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the ROK.

Xi will make a two-day state visit to Seoul and hold a summit with Park on Thursday. He will meet with National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa and Prime Minister Chung Hong-won on Friday. Xi will also deliver a speech at a local university and attend economic and trade events during his stay.

The upcoming China-ROK talks were anticipated to empower efforts to solve nuclear issue and deter possible provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the presidential adviser said.

Ju said that Xi and Park will also exchange views on mutual interests for peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world, which suggests the two leaders will address Japan's recent provocative actions.

The Japanese Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, decided on Tuesday to reinterpret its 67-year-old pacifist Constitution to allow the country the right to exercise collective self-defense.

On the economy front, the two leaders will talk about speeding up negotiations for a bilateral free trade pact, setting up a market to directly exchange the currencies of the two countries and strengthening cooperation in future cutting-edge industries.