Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are staunch forces to maintain the stability on the Korean Peninsula and to push forward peace talks. 

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with ROK President Moon Jae-in at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. 

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Xi pointed out that China and the ROK have consistent positions and interests on the Korean Peninsula issue, and both insist on maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation. 

China supports the ROK in continuing to improve relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and to inject momentum into the process of peace talks on the peninsula, he added. 

Echoing with Xi, Moon said the ROK appreciates China's important role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue and is willing to work with China to advance the peace process on the peninsula.    

Hailing China and the ROK as close friends and partners, Xi said the two countries have a broad consensus in maintaining regional peace and stability, and safeguarding multilateralism and free trade.

Xi urged the two sides to speed up the alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative with ROK's development strategy, and accelerate the second stage of bilateral free trade agreement negotiations. 

China and the ROK should deepen and develop their strategic cooperative partnership, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and lift bilateral ties to a higher level, Xi said. 

At present, protectionism, unilateralism and bullying acts are disrupting global governance and threatening world peace and stability, Xi noted, adding that China, as a responsible country, has always included its own development in the world's development, and is willing to uphold equality and mutual benefits with other countries, share opportunities and responsibilities, and commit to building a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Xi said he hoped the two sides could continue to strengthen coordination within the multilateral frameworks of the United Nations, the Group of 20 and APEC, and safeguard international fairness and justice and legitimate rights and interests of the two countries. 

Moon, for his part, said Hong Kong and Xinjiang issues are purely China's internal affairs. 

He noted that the ROK understands China's position on major issues, supports free trade, and is willing to continue to strengthen communication and collaboration with China in regional and international affairs. 

Moon is in China to attend the eighth China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting, which will be held in China's southwestern city of Chengdu on Tuesday. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Moon Monday in Chengdu, calling on the two countries to enhance mutual political trust and economic and trade cooperation. 

Noting that China and the ROK are important neighbors and trading partners, Li said the two countries have enjoyed rapid development in their relations since they established diplomatic ties, and the trade volume between the two countries exceeded 300 billion U.S. dollars last year. 

Both China and the ROK share a similar culture and have a long history of exchanges, said Li, adding that China attaches great importance to ties with the ROK and stands ready, from an overall and long-term perspective, to work with the ROK to enhance mutual political trust, boost mutually beneficial cooperation, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, which are critical to securing peace, stability, development and prosperity in not only China and the ROK, but also Northeast Asia. 

Amid the global economic and trade downturn and downward pressure, Li said, China and the ROK should give full play to their complementary advantages, enhance economic and trade cooperation, and make China-ROK cooperation a driving force of regional and global economic development. 

China is willing to uphold an open and inclusive attitude to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with the ROK, actively discuss carrying out cooperation in third-party markets, technological innovation and the service industry, and deepen cooperation in addressing climate change and environmental protection to better achieve win-win results. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China-Japan-ROK cooperation. 

Li stressed that China is ready to work with the ROK and Japan to promote trilateral cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and in particular, facilitate the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at an early date and promote concrete progress in the China-Japan-ROK free trade agreement negotiations, thus sending a positive signal to the region and the world. 

Moon, who is in China to attend the eighth China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting, applauded the political, economic and cultural achievements China and the ROK have made since they established diplomatic relations, saying the two countries have achieved common development and made contributions to peace and the development of Northeast Asia and the world. 

Against the background of downward pressure on the world economy and rising uncertainties, Moon said he was in complete agreement that all parties should join hands to address challenges. 

Moon said the ROK is ready to work with China to strengthen the synergy of development strategies, promote third-party market cooperation for early achievements, cement people-to-people exchanges, and enhance cooperation in sports, culture and tourism. 

The ROK stands ready to work with China to promote the signing of the RCEP as soon as possible and take concrete steps to safeguard free trade, he said. 

(With input from Xinhua)