Jiang told Lee Hae-chan, visiting special envoy of Roh Moo-hyun, the President-elect of the Republic of Korea (ROK), that China has always insisted on the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula because that is conducive to peace and development on the peninsula.

China supports the ROK to play its role in the process and will continue to make its own efforts to resolve the issue, Jiang said.

China appreciates the reconciliation policy adopted by incumbent ROK President Kim Dae-jung and welcomes Roh Moo-hyun to persist in that policy, Jiang said.

The advancement of China-ROK ties is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, Jiang said, noting that China values the progress made in bilateral ties since the two nations established diplomatic ties ten years ago.

China hopes that exchanges and cooperation with the ROK will be strengthened even further in the new century, Jiang said.

Jiang again expressed congratulations to Roh on his electoral victory.

For his part, Lee said that Roh attaches great importance to the cooperative partnership between the ROK and China, adding that the incoming president looks forward to visiting China.

The ROK will continue the reconciliation policy and make active efforts to improve relations with the DPRK, Lee said, adding that the ROK and China share a common position on the DPRK nuclear issue.

The ROK is willing to make efforts with China to play a positive role in the peaceful resolution of the current issue, Lee said, noting that war should be prevented under any circumstances.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2003)