Tian Congming, president of Xinhua News Agency, meets Wednesday with Kim Chang-ho, minister of Government Information Agency of the Republic of Korea (ROK). They exchanged views on cooperation. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, August 22 (Xinhua) -- Tian Congming, president of Xinhua News Agency, met here Wednesday with Kim Chang-ho, minister of Government Information Agency of the Republic of Korea (ROK). They exchanged views on cooperation.

    Xinhua has sound cooperative relations with ROK media organizations and hopes to expand exchanges and coordination, Tiansaid, adding Xinhua enjoys friendly relations with Yonhap News Agency and Joong Ang Ilbo, among others.

    As the largest news agency in China, the host country for the 2008 Olympic Games, Xinhua is ready to assist foreign media including those from the ROK media in covering the Games, Tian said.

    Xinhua is willing to learn the experience of foreign media in developing itself while opening up to the world, said Tian.

    China and the ROK share a lot of common or similar things in history and culture, which provides a platform for media of both countries to cooperate, Tian said.

    "Xinhua will continue to help maintain peace, stability and development of the Korean Peninsula and enhance understanding and friendship of the two peoples through news reporting," Tian said.

    Echoing Tian's remarks, Kim said the ROK government and people admire the achievements of Xinhua during past years, and Chinese media has made great contribution to the region through their objective reporting of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and the development of the northeast Asia community.

    As the year 2007 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ROK diplomatic relations and "China-ROK exchange year", the two sides have jointly held a series of events in Beijing.

    Kim said that the ROK and China witnessed development in people-to-people exchanges during past 15 years, and the two countries will focus on raising the quality of exchanges in future, which calls for efforts from both governments and media.

    The ROK government is willing to promote cooperation between the ROK and Chinese media, Kim said.

    Kim is visiting China at the invitation of the Information Office of the State Council of China.