Jiang said China attaches great importance to relations with South Korea, one of China's important neighbors.

Since China and South Korea established diplomatic relations 10years ago, bilateral relations, through efforts from both sides, have achieved rapid development in various fields and the Sino-South Korean cooperative partnership has entered a new phase of comprehensive cooperation, Jiang said.

The developments, he said, are conducive to the fundamental benefits of the two peoples and are beneficial to maintaining regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.

Jiang expressed the belief that through concerted efforts, the friendly and cooperative relations between China and South Korea will be further strengthened and developed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2002)