1st LD: Chinese president talks with South Korean president by phone

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with newly-elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in here on Thursday.

Congratulating Moon on his election as South Korean president, Xi said that China and South Korea are close neighbors as well as important players in the region.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 25 years ago, their ties have achieved enormous achievements that deserve to be cherished, Xi said.

Both sides should respect each other's major concerns and legitimate interests and try best to seek common ground and handle disputes properly, Xi said.

He also expressed the hope that the new South Korean government could be mindful of China's major concerns, and take concrete actions to secure a steady and healthy development of bilateral ties.

Stronger China-South Korea relations serves the common interests of both peoples, and are conducive to regional peace, stability and development, Xi said. Endi