China, ROK vow to boost cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with his Republic of Korea (ROK) counterpart, Park Geun-hye, with both sides vowing to boost their countries' cooperation in various fields.

China and the ROK are friendly neighbors and important forces for the promotion of regional and world peace, Xi told Park, who is here to attend commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

He said that in the fight against Japan's colonial aggression for national liberation, the two peoples worked in unity and helped one another, making significant contribution to the victory of the war.

China-ROK relations are presenting a gratifying picture of growing mutual political trust, economic and trade cooperation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he added.

China and the ROK have been fully implementing a series of important consensus reached between the two heads of state during their previous reciprocal visits and achieved a lot of positive results, said the president.

Xi said the two countries have exchanged frequent high-level visits, formally signed a free trade agreement, achieved new progress in cooperation within the framework of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and improved people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the ROK in various fields as partners for common development, regional peace, the revitalization of Asia, and world prosperity, he said.

He said ROK's initiative for cooperation between Europe and Asia agrees with China's construction of the "Belt and Road", which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with the goal of boosting trade between the two continents.

China welcomes ROK's active participation in "Belt and Road" projects and the operation of the AIIB, Xi said.

The president also called on the two countries to increase investment in people-to-people and cultural exchanges and make a success of their planned events of tourism years.

On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Xi said China always sticks to realizing denuclearization of the peninsula, maintaining peace and stability, and resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation.

He urged the practical implementation of a joint statement issued after the 4th round six-party talks in Beijing on Sept. 19, 2005 and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, saying China opposes any action that may lead to tensions in the region.

All parties should adhere to the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and strive for an early resumption and positive progress of the six-party talks, he said.

Both the south and north sides are welcomed to continue improving their relations through dialogue, boost reconciliation and cooperation, and achieve independent and peaceful unification, Xi noted.

China supports concerned parties' ideas aimed at pushing forward regional peace and cooperation, and is willing to discuss regional cooperation in Northeast Asia and the promotion of common prosperity and development with all parties, he said.

The president said his country is ready to maintain communication and coordination with the ROK on international and regional affairs, including the issue of the Korean Peninsula.

Park said her attendance at the upcoming commemorations in China is of great significance.

The two countries' history in the last century, when they shared weal and woe with each other during the war, highlights the importance of their strategic cooperative partnership today, she said.

She said her country is willing to actively accelerate cooperation with China in various fields, and strengthen coordination between ROK's initiative for Europe-Asia cooperation and China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

The ROK hopes to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in dealing with the situation on the Korean Peninsula, realizing the peninsula's denuclearization, safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and promoting cooperation in the region, Park said.

The ROK also hopes to make concerted efforts with China to lead the relations between countries in the region on the track of healthy development, she said. Endi