Foreign and Military Affairs

VP urges closer economic, political ties with ROK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-07-05 13:25

BEIJING - Vice President Xi Jinping has urged China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement and to jointly preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsular.

Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of ROK's Democratic Party, in Beijing Monday afternoon.

He praised the sound momentum in bilateral ties, citing frequent high-level exchanges, substantial cooperation, people-to-people contact, communication and coordination on international affairs between the two countries, according to a press release issued by Xi's office on Tuesday.

China values such bilateral ties and will work with ROK to enhance strategic communication and mutual trust, promote exchanges between the two peoples, especially the youth, and to facilitate cooperation between the two states' political parties, Xi said.

Sohn Hak-kyu, also a member of the National Assembly, praised China's economic and social achievements, pledging to enhance party-to-party exchange of experience.

The ROK will also make joint efforts with China to resume the South-North dialogues of the Korean Peninsula and the six-party nuclear talks to realize denuclearization on the peninsular and to preserve regional security and stability, he said.