The closer trade cooperation between China and South Korea will contribute to the booming economy of East Asia as a whole.

At an academic forum Monday in Beijing, experts from China and South Korea agreed that the two countries are rising as strong powers to push forward cooperation among countries in East Asia.

They say the current situation requires both countries to further enhance their economic and trade cooperation, and this will not only boost their common development, but also inject more vigor to East Asian economy.

China is now South Korea's second biggest trade partner and South Korea is China's sixth largest.

(CRI June 29, 2004)