(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung in Beijing on Monday.
According to Xi, he and President Lee met twice and made reciprocal visits, reflecting the importance both sides attach to bilateral relations. As friends and neighbors, China and the ROK should intensify exchanges and maintain frequent communication.
China has always attached great importance to relations with the ROK in its regional diplomatic agenda and maintained the continuity and stability of its ROK policy, Xi said, adding that China is willing to work with the ROK to firmly uphold the direction of friendly cooperation, adhere to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, promote the bilateral strategic partnership on a healthy path, effectively improve the well-being of the two peoples, and make positive contributions to regional peace and development. and global.
He said China and the Republic of Korea have long adhered to the principles of putting peace first and promoting harmony without conformity, which have transcended differences in social systems and ideologies to help each other achieve success and common development.
He called on the two sides to continue this fine tradition, strengthen mutual trust, respect each other’s development paths, take into account each other’s core interests and major concerns, and appropriately resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation.
Xi said the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and adopted proposals on formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, thereby charting China’s development in the next five years and providing vast opportunities for countries around the world.
China and the Republic of Korea enjoy close economic ties, with deeply intertwined industrial and supply chains, while bilateral cooperation is mutually beneficial, Xi noted.
The two countries should further align development strategies, strengthen policy coordination, broaden the spectrum of common interests, and achieve more cooperation results in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green industries and the senior economy, Xi added.
He also called on the two sides to intensify people’s exchanges and promote interactions in areas such as youth, media, sports, think tanks and local governments.
China and the Republic of Korea bear important responsibilities in maintaining regional peace and promoting global development, and share a wide range of common interests, Xi said, noting that the two countries should firmly stand on the right side of history and make the right strategic choices.
More than 80 years ago, the two peoples made enormous national sacrifices and won victory against Japanese militarism, Xi said, adding that China and the Republic of Korea should join forces to preserve the fruits of victory in World War II and protect peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
As beneficiaries of economic globalization, China and the Republic of Korea should work together to oppose protectionism and practice true multilateralism, thereby contributing to the advancement of an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive and win-win economic globalization, Xi said.
For his part, Lee said the ROK and China are close neighbors with long-standing relations, stressing that the two countries have jointly fought against Japanese militaristic aggression and the ROK is grateful to China for its efforts to preserve historical sites in China from the ROK independence movement.
The two nations have established close cooperative ties and achieved fruitful results since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Lee said, adding that the Republic of Korea attaches great importance to its relations with China. She hopes to use the first diplomatic meeting between heads of state of the year to consolidate the momentum for the recovery and comprehensive development of bilateral relations, seek common ground while putting aside differences, deepen the strategic cooperative partnership between the Republic of Korea and China, and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
He stressed that his country respects China’s core interests and major concerns and adheres to the one-China principle.
Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has played a positive role in the economic and social development of the two countries, Lee said, stressing that the Republic of Korea looks forward to seizing the opportunities provided by China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to achieve more results in its practical cooperation with China.
He added that the two countries should promote people-to-people exchanges and strengthen mutual understanding and trust. The Republic of Korea is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China and contribute to global prosperity and development, and wishes China success in hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
At the end of their interview, MM. Xi and Lee witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents in areas including scientific and technological innovation, ecological environment, transportation and economic and trade cooperation.
Before the meeting, Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for Mr. Lee and his wife, Kim Hea Kyung, at the Great Hall of the People.
(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
