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)