Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday called for closer parliamentary exchanges between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to push forward bilateral relations.

At a meeting with ROK National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, Hu said the China-ROK relations have developed rapidly since the two nations established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, adding that the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides haven been closer in various areas.

As a significant part of China-ROK ties, the active exchanges between the parliaments, the political parties and organizations of the two countries have further boosted mutual understanding and trust and played an important role in moving forward the sound and steady bilateral relations, Hu said.

The Chinese leader expressed the hope that the parliaments and political circles of the two countries would strengthen exchanges and cooperation and make new contributions to the constantly developing China-ROK ties.

Kim said the ROK people enjoy the fast-developing ties with China.

The ROK side highly commends China's close attention to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and its important role in the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

All political parties in the ROK support strengthening the exchanges and cooperation between Seoul and Beijing in various areas and are willing to make positive efforts to further bilateral ties, Kim added.

Kim expressed congratulations to Hu over the success of the Beijing Olympics and the excellent results achieved by Chinese athletes. He said the ROK people will remember the Beijing Olympics as the ROK athletes achieved in Beijing the best result at an Olympics.

Hu expressed gratitude to the ROK government and people for their support for the Beijing Olympics.

The Chinese president arrived in Seoul Monday for a two-day state visit. He left Seoul Tuesday afternoon for Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to continue his three-nation Asian tour which will also take him to Turkmenistan.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2008)