Premier Li hopes Sino-S. Korean ties can move forward

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China wants Sino-South Korean ties to move forward in a stable and healthy manner, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Li met South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is paying a four-day state visit to China which ends on Saturday.

The premier said a consensus on the future of bilateral ties, which have been tense in recent times, was reached by Moon and Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks on Thursday.

China is willing to work with South Korea, Li said, to further enhance mutual trust and solve sensitive issues properly so as to push bilateral ties in a right track, promote the well-being of the two nations and their people and maintain the regional peace and stability.

He pointed out that China and South Korea already cooperate in a wide range of areas and close cultural exchanges would help to create a win-win situation.

As a next step, he said the two sides should seize the opportunity to consolidate bilateral ties, synergize development strategies with each other and start a second round of China-South Korea free trade negotiations at the appropriate time.

China's Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with South Korea's President Moon Jae-In (L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. /Reuters Photo

The Chinese premier listed cooperation fields such as finance and the "China-South Korea Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park". He also mentioned that the two sides should enhance cooperation in emerging areas including artificial intelligence and big data.

Li hoped they can create a good business environment for cross-border investment as well.

Moon replied that South Korea is willing to accelerate the improvement and development of bilateral ties with China.

The relationship between the two nations has developed rapidly with remarkable results during 25 years of diplomatic ties, he said.

South Korea hopes to expand pragmatic cooperation with China in fields including innovation, finance, investment, agriculture, environmental protection and tourism, the South Korean president said.

He added that South Korea would like to start the second round of free trade negotiations at an early date and is willing to develop humanities exchanges further.

Moon also met on Friday with Zhang Dejiang, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Zhang said strengthening China-South Korea friendship and cooperation is not only in line with the interests of the two peoples, but also conducive to regional peace and stability.

"I hope South Korea will continue to properly handle the THAAD issue and ensure that bilateral relations are always moving in the right direction," he said.