¡¡MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and his South Korean counterpart Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday pledged joint efforts to boost bilateral ties and called for a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue.

    Hu and Roh arrived in Moscow earlier in the day to attend the celebrations on Monday marking the 60th anniversary of Soviet victory of the Great Patriotic War.

    During a meeting with Roh, Hu said Chinese-South Korean relations have been developing rapidly. Political trust between both sides have deepened and economic and trade cooperation have expanded, he added.

    With bilateral trade growing by 27 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, annual trade volume is expected to meet the goal of100 billion US dollars this year, the Chinese president said.

    China attaches great importance to relations with South Korea and stands ready to work with South Korea to boost the comprehensive partnership of cooperation between the two countries,Hu said.

    Roh, for his part, said China's economic growth has provided animpetus for South Korean-Chinese economic and trade ties and the South Korean government and businesses expect to expand the economic and technological cooperation between the two sides.

    Speaking on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean president said the changes in the current situation on the peninsula necessitate a serious study by all relevant parties.

    The six-party talks on the issue have been stalled since February, when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced its decision to suspend participation in the talks and, for the first time, admitted possessing nuclear arms for self-defense.

    South Korea hopes for sustained peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and expects China to play an active role in resolving the issue, Roh said.

    President Hu said China believes resolving the issue peacefullythrough dialogue is in the interests of all parties concerned and therefore has actively engaged in efforts to this end.

    The Chinese president urged all parties concerned to make jointefforts to re-open the six-party talks to make sure the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula stays on the course of peaceful resolution through dialogue. Enditem