Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has requested a declaration of a launch of bilateral free talks between South Korea and China.

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik told reporters on Thursday that Wen made the request during their talks in Beijing earlier on Wednesday. Kim said Wen proposed that their nations first declare the launch of the trade discussions and then go over the details of the talks during the negotiations.

In response, Kim expressed caution over the proposed move and stressed that prior deliberation over contentious areas, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries, must come first.

South Korea and China have concluded their joint studies on adopting a trade pact, but government-level talks on the matter have yet to take place.