The main opposition party's leader urged the government Wednesday to build an international airport in the country's southwest to help attract investment and expand trade with China.

Moon Jae-in, chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, made the appeal during a party meeting held at the North Jeolla provincial government building in Jeonju, 243 kilometers south of Seoul, a traditional stronghold of the party.

He said the airport should be built in Saemangeum -- a large area of reclaimed land along the country's southwestern coast -- as part of efforts to develop North Jeolla Province.

"It is essential to build an international airport in Saemangeum in order to attract large domestic and foreign firms to the area and expand human and material exchanges with China," Moon said. "The government must include a Saemangeum international airport in its fifth mid- to long-term comprehensive airport development plan."

The Saemangeum project began in 1991 with the aim of becoming an eco-friendly waterfront city with high-end industrial, tourism and agricultural facilities, as well as science and research institutes.

"Only by quickly completing the Saemangeum project through greater investments will we be able to revive North Jeolla's stagnant economy," Moon said. (Yonhap)