Xi: Talks 'only correct way' for China, ROK

President Xi Jinping called for more dialogue to resolve issues regarding the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye during the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Thursday.

"Dialogue is the only correct way to resolve issues," Xi told Park. "The Chinese side stands ready to make efforts in a constructive way to resume dialogue within the framework of the Six-Party Talks."

President Xi Jinping and ROK President Park Geun-hye agreed to continue advancing their bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields.

Xi said South Korea is a crucial neighbor of China, and the two sides should maintain strategic communication and respect each other on major issues of mutual interest.

Xi invited the ROK to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and urged both countries to accelerate the process of aligning development strategies by emphasizing cooperation in trade, finance and investment.

To collaborate on every level, Xi emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges.

"Let's help each other carry out a successful PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics," Xi told Park.

Xi said China will also assist ROK in promoting tourism and help facilitate a young leadership conference and other programs that will further strengthen the friendship between their people.

Xi urged China and ROK to keep a close relationship within international communities, such as the United Nations, G20 and APEC, and communicate closely on global issues.

Park said she agrees with Xi that they should maintain close high-level communication, which shows the importance of the relationship.

Park said ROK wants to build a strong trust with China, and as Xi said, enhance collaborations on every level and in all fields.

As the economy globalizes, Park said it becomes more important for China and ROK to strengthen trade cooperation, implement a free trade agreement and link ROK's Eurasia Initiative with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

ROK fully supports people-to-people exchanges and will join hands with China to host the Winter Olympics, said Park.

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 04/01/2016 page3)