China appreciates the efforts made by the Republic of Korea (ROK)
for developing bilateral relations, and hopes the two sides would
continue their efforts to push forward the overall development of
cooperative partnership in the new century, Chinese Premier Zhu
Rongji said Tuesday.
Zhu made the remark during his talks with visiting ROK Prime
Minister Lee Han-Dong, who arrived in Beijing earlier Tuesday on a
working visit as Zhu's guest.
During the talks, they exchanged views on furthering Sino-ROK
friendly relations of cooperation and other issues of common
concern.
Zhu recalled that in 1998, the two countries' heads of state
announced the establishment of a bilateral cooperative partnership
oriented towards the 21st century, which he said made clear the
direction for the development of bilateral ties.
Zhu said that during his visit to the ROK last year, the two sides
agreed to push the cooperative partnership to a new phase of
all-round cooperation and they also reached agreements on
cooperation in many fields.
With concerted efforts from both sides, some of these agreements
have been carried out, and some others are being implemented, Zhu
said, expressing pleasure with the progress.
He
said that the two countries have maintained high-level political
contacts, which have promoted the overall development of bilateral
ties.
He
said that the two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in
safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and
promoting regional peace and development, and they have enhanced
mutual understanding and trust.
China and the ROK have also expanded cooperation in economy and
trade, Zhu said. The two countries have made marked progress in
cooperation in information technology and set up an investment
cooperation committee, he said.
All this shows the further progress in the two countries' economic
and trade cooperation.
Zhu also mentioned the Sino-ROK fishery agreement which will take
effect on June 30, saying that it is of significance for
maintaining a normal fishing order, protecting fishery resources
and conducting cooperation in fishery.
Noting that 2002 will be the 10th anniversary of the establishment
of bilateral diplomatic ties, Zhu said that both side should take
the opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new high.
Lee conveyed ROK President Kim Dae-Jung's greetings to Zhu, and
expressed admiration for the Chinese people's achievements in
national construction and economic development under the leadership
of the Chinese leaders and government.
He
said that the ROK hopes that China can play an even more important
role in economic stability of the region and the world at
large.
Lee said that the ROK and China have conducted fruitful cooperation
in many fields since they forged diplomatic ties.
Last year, the leaders of the two countries agreed to push forward
overall cooperation last year, which played an important role in
promoting bilateral relations.
In
the past year, bilateral overall cooperation has been furthered
gradually, and the establishment of the bilateral investment
cooperation committee and the institute of bilateral economic
cooperation in the 21st century should be hailed, he said.
He
said that the ROK hopes that the two sides can further their
cooperation of mutual benefit in such fields as information
industry, finance, energy and iron and steel so as to add more
concrete content to overall bilateral cooperation.
They also exchanged views on issues of common concern like the
situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's consistent
policy to support econciliation between the two sides on the
Peninsula.
(Xinhua News Agency 06/20/2001)