Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing Tuesday with the President
of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Roh Moo-hyun.
Wu
said Roh's visit to China soon after assuming office indicates that
the new ROK government attaches great importance to Sino-ROK
relations, which will be furthered by the visit.
Wu
thanked the ROK for its assistance in fighting against the severe
acute respiratory syndrome, and he wished Roh success and happiness
during his visit in Beijing.
Roh thanked the Chinese leaders and people for their hospitality.
He said he had had substantive talks with Chinese President Hu
Jintao yesterday and added that he believed bilateral relations
will advance.
On
the same day, Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong also met with
the visiting ROK President and other ROK guests.
Since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1992, Zeng said,
bilateral relations have developed in a comprehensive manner, which
has served the practical interests of the people of both countries
and contributed to regional peace and stability.
The Chinese side is confident that the all-around cooperative
partnership of the two countries will have a bright future, he
added.
Vice President Zeng enunciated China's stance on the nuclear issue
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, saying that China
welcomes an improvement in relations on the peninsula.
He
said the Chinese side appreciates the peace and prosperity policy
advocated by President Roh.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Millennium Democratic
Party (MDP) of the ROK have maintained friendly exchanges, Zeng
said, and mutual understanding and trust have also kept deepening
since they established inter-party relations in 1998.
The CPC stands ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with the MDP
and with other ROK parties to contribute to the full development of
bilateral relations, Zeng said.
President Roh said that bilateral relations have made noticeable
progress with the caring attention of the leaders of both countries
in recent years. The ROK side is willing to work with the Chinese
side to deepen the all-around cooperative partnership, including
inter-party relations, he noted.
Meanwhile, President Roh thanked China for its support for both
sides of the Korean Peninsula in their efforts to improve and
develop relations, stressing that the ROK side would continue to
work for peace and stability on the peninsula.
President Roh, who arrived in Beijing Monday, is presently on a
four-day state visit as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2003)