Special report: President Hu visits 3 nations, attends SCO Summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front) shakes hands with South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung Soo during their meeting in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Aug. 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao of China proposed increased cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK) in various fields at a meeting with ROK Prime Minister Han Seung-so here Tuesday.

    Bilateral ties have achieved rapid progress since the two nations established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, Hu said at the meeting.

    He proposed that the two governments strengthen cooperation in political, economic and international issues, as well as intensify people-to-people exchanges.

    The two governments could make full use of their dialogue mechanism -- especially the bilateral strategic dialogue mechanism at the foreign-ministry level to be launched in the near future --to promote mutual understanding and trust, President Hu suggested.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd L) and South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung Soo (3rd R) attend the World Expo cooperation conference in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Aug. 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Economic collaboration should be deepened for mutually beneficial and win-win development through enhanced cooperation in key fields such as telecommunications, finance, logistics and environmental protection, he said.

    Hu expressed hope that the two neighbors would expand people-to-people communications in view of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the 2012 Yeosu World Expo, and successfully host the 2010 'Visit China Year' and 2012 'Visit Korea Year'.

    He also proposed enhanced bilateral coordination in regional and international issues to secure the common interests of both China and the ROK.

    The Chinese leader expressed hope that the two nations would continue to push forward the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula and Northeast Asia and strengthening coordination in regional cooperation and other issues of significance.

    Prime Minister Han welcomed President Hu's proposals concerning closer bilateral ties, saying the exchange of high-level visits are vital to the development of ROK-China ties.

    He said the neighboring countries should work together to expand economic cooperation to counter the global economic depression.

    The two nations should also boost people-to-people communication for better mutual understanding, Han added.

    He hailed China's leading role in maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia and in pushing forward the six-party talks, and expressed hope of further cooperating with China on regional and international issues.

    Han congratulated the Chinese president over the successful hosting of the recently concluded Beijing Olympics and wished the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, scheduled for Sept. 6-17, every success.

    President Hu arrived in Seoul on a state visit Monday, his second since taking office. On Tuesday afternoon, he left for Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to continue his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Turkmenistan.

China, ROK issue joint communique, vow to cement bilateral relations

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L Rear) and President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Myung-bak (R Rear) hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential palace in Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea, Aug. 25, 2008. Hu Jintao arrived in Seoul on Monday for a two-day state visit to ROK. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

 

    SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) issued a joint communique here Monday, vowing to cement bilateral relations.

    The two countries pledged to broaden and enhance cooperation, and intensify coordination on regional and international issues so as to achieve long-term common development while contributing to world peace and prosperity, according to the joint communique issued during President Hu Jintao's state visit to the ROK. Full story

Chinese president calls for closer China-ROK parliamentary exchanges 


    SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday called for closer parliamentary exchanges between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to push forward bilateral relations.

    At a meeting with ROK National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, Hu said the China-ROK relations have developed rapidly since the two nations established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, adding that the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides haven been closer in various areas. Full story