Xi calls on China, S. Korea to promote sound, steady development of ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and South Korea to promote a sound and steady development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Peruvian capital city of Lima.

The past two years have seen many changes in the international and regional situation, Xi noted, adding that bilateral ties have maintained a momentum of development on the whole.

No matter how the situation changes, China and South Korea should stick to the original intention in establishing diplomatic ties, firmly adhere to the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship, and remain committed to the goal of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Xi said.

Xi also called on the two sides to give full play to the advantages of geographical proximity, cultural affinity and economic integration to strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation, and promote a sound and steady development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, so as to better benefit the two peoples and make greater contribution to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Xi stressed both sides should enhance high-level contact, increase understanding and trust, commit to mutual success, and achieve common development.

China remains steadfast in expanding high-level openness to the outside world, and welcomes more South Korean enterprises to invest and do business in China, he said.

Xi said both sides should work together to safeguard the international free trade system, ensure the stability and smoothness of global and regional industrial and supply chains, conduct more activities conducive to enhancing friendship, and encourage those of public opinion circles, academic circles and at subnational levels, especially young people, to strengthen exchanges.

China welcomes more South Korean people to visit and hopes that South Korea will introduce more facilitation measures for Chinese citizens to visit the country, he said.

Xi said China congratulates and supports South Korea in taking on the role of host for next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and is willing to expand multilateral coordination and cooperation with it.

Yoon said South Korea regards China as an important cooperation partner and hopes to continuously develop the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries based on mutual respect and the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations to help better address common challenges and promote regional peace and stability.

He said South Korea's policy of respecting the one China will not change, and his country hopes to participate in China's modernization process and further strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

South Korea welcomes China's visa-free policy for its citizens and is willing to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said Yoon.

South Korea is also willing to closely communicate and cooperate with China within multilateral frameworks such as APEC to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)