China to push for 'constant progress' with South Korea
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy Han Zheng met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in yesterday in Seoul and discussed issues related to bilateral ties and the improved situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Han, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed Xi’s wishes that the Winter Olympics would achieve a great success.
China and South Korea are close neighbors geographically and natural partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, their relationship has achieved development in an all-round manner, Han said.
Recalling Moon’s successful state visit to China in December and his telephone conversation with Xi at the beginning of this year, Han said the two leaders had reached consensus on developing bilateral ties as well as strengthening coordination on key international and regional issues.
China is willing to work with South Korea to insist on mutual respect and support, fully embark on communication and dialog at all levels, further stimulate exchanges and cooperation, properly handle sensitive issues, and increase mutual understanding and trust, in order to push for constant progress in bilateral relations, Han said.
On the Korean Peninsula issue, Han said the situation on the peninsula is undergoing positive changes as both South Korea and North Korea took the opportunity of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to restart dialog and begin cooperation.
China supports the conciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas, and hopes that relevant parties will meet each other halfway and make joint effort to further ease tension on the peninsula and push forward the political settlement process of the peninsula issue.
Moon said that South Korea and China are important neighbors and cooperative partners and bilateral ties are now at a new starting point.
The South Korean president added his country is willing to work in a positive manner with China to enhance political mutual trust and friendship, boost exchanges at all levels, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs and push forward the development of the South Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership.
Moon said his country is willing to maintain communication with China to push forward the inter-Korean dialog facilitated by the Winter Olympics.