1st LD: S. Korean president appreciates China's role on Korean Peninsula issue

SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday said he appreciates China's role on the Korean Peninsula issue, saying his country is willing to work closely with China to push forward inter-Korean dialogue faciliated by the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

South Korea is willing to coordinate with China to continue the inter-Korean dialogue, to settle the peninsula issue through peaceful means and to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity in the region, said Moon when meeting with Han Zheng, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy.

South Korea and China are important neighbors and cooperative partners and bilateral ties are now at a new starting point, Moon told Han, who will attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday.

South Korea is willing to work in a positive manner with China to enhance political trust and friendship, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs and push forward the South Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership. Enditem