Diplomatic relations between Korea and China have continuously improved, but there is much room for enhancement in ties between the people of the two countries, President Lee Myung-bak said at the 44th Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

The President related his remarks to the summit meeting he had with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last week and called for his Cabinet ministers to find ways to enhance friendly ties between Korean and Chinese people.

The two countries normalized diplomatic relations in 1992, and bilateral personnel exchanges currently amount to 5 million a year.

Also at the meeting, the President asked the ministers to continue to pay keen attention to the economic situation. "The world economy has yet to fully recover, so we should maintain emergency economic measures for the time being," he said.

President Lee also emphasized to the officials at the meeting that all government officials should do their utmost to serve the people.

The President received a briefing from the Foreign Ministry on the results of the trilateral summit of Korea, China and Japan (Oct. 10) and from the Finance Ministry on the outcome of the 64th IMF/World Bank Annual Meeting (Oct. 6).