Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan (R) meets with Park Geun-hye, envoy of President-elect Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday pledged China's readiness to further develop comprehensive and lasting ties with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

    "China is ready to make joint efforts with the ROK to promote bilateral ties toward further comprehensive and lasting development at a new starting point," Tang told Park Geun-hye, visiting envoy of ROK President-elect Lee Myung-bak.

    Tang said the development of the China-ROK relationship is both in the common interests of China and the ROK and conducive to regional and world peace and development. He added China has always regarded and promoted the China-ROK relations with a strategic view and a long-term and broad perspective.

    Echoing Tang's remarks, Park hailed the development of bilateral ties, saying the ROK president-elect considers the relationship with China as one of the most important foreign relations of the country.

    She added the ROK is ready to make joint efforts with China to raise the level of bilateral ties, in a bid to bring about benefits for the two peoples.

    Tang also expressed his grief over the death of Chinese citizens in the warehouse explosion and fire in Incheon on Jan. 7.He hoped the ROK would properly handle the aftermath of the accident and take measures to avoid similar incidents in future.

    Park said the ROK side was doing all it could to deal with the aftermath of the accident and again expressed her country's condolences to the families of the dead Chinese.