Xi tells Park China opposes deployment of THAAD in ROK

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Park Geun-hye before the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANGZHOU - China opposes the US deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in the Republic of Korea (ROK), President Xi Jinping told ROK President Park Geun-hye on Monday.

"Mishandling the issue is not conducive to strategic stability in the region, and could intensify conflicts," Xi said in Hangzhou.

Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to realizing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the peninsula, and solving relevant issues through dialogue and consultation.

He urged adhering to the six-party talks platform, addressing the concern of various parties in a comprehensive and balanced way, treating both symptoms and root causes, and realizing long-term peace and stability in the Peninsula.

Calling China and the ROK "close neighbors with broad common interests," Xi said both sides share long-term interests in their common development and regional peace.

The Chinese president commended "leapfrog development" of bilateral ties and the great benefits brought to people on both sides, after the two countries established diplomatic relations 24 years ago.

China and the ROK should cherish their political mutual trust, safeguard their cooperative foundations, and overcome difficulties and challenges, in order to put bilateral ties on the right track toward stable and healthy development, Xi said.

"China is willing to work with the ROK to better protect and advance their hard-won ties," he said, while expressing hopes that the two countries strive to "expand cooperative and positive elements and put lid on negative ones."

He said both countries should respect each other's core interests, to ensure bilateral ties go "stable and afar."

They should also seek common grounds while shelving differences to cultivate a favorable environment for common development, and strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues to bolster common interests, Xi said.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with the ROK under multilateral frameworks, and step up coordination on hot spot issues, he said.