Xi meets with S. Korean President Moon Jae-in

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Chinese President Xi Jinping met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The two leaders reaffirmed their joint efforts to peacefully resolve the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear problem in a summit highlighting the recent normalization of bilateral ties previously estranged by the deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea.

Xi told Moon that China sincerely hopes for the best for the peninsula, and encourages South Korea to resume contact and dialogue with the DPRK and restart cooperation for reconciliation.

China is willing to maintain communication with South Korea on promoting peace, stability and talks, as well as avoiding conflicts on the peninsula, said Xi.

South Korea appreciates China's positive role on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, stands ready to maintain close communication and coordination with China, and insists on solving the issue in a peaceful manner to protect peace on the peninsula, said Moon.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Da Nang, Vietnam, November 11, 2017. /Xinhua

Xi also told Moon that China and South Korea are close neighbors that can not move away and so are natural cooperation partners.

The two countries share broad common interests in promoting their economic and social progress, and in realizing regional peace, stability and prosperity, said Xi.

He added that friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation have always been the main theme of China-South Korea diplomatic relations since they were forged 25 years ago, while China places importance on its relations with South Korea.

China stands ready to join hands with South Korea to push for the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Xi said, as good bilateral ties are in accordance with the trend of history and time, as well as the common expectation of the two peoples.

Noting that the China-South Korea relations are at a crucial stage, Xi said both sides need to respect each other's core interests and major concern, maintain political mutual trust, and enhance communication and coordination.

Xi reiterated China's stance on the issue of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his S. Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Berlin, Germany, July 6, 2017. /Xinhua Photo‍

He stressed that on such high-stake issues, the two sides should have an attitude that is responsible to history, to bilateral ties and to both peoples, and make decisions that can stand the test of history, so as to steadily move forward bilateral relations in the right direction.

Moon congratulated Xi on the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, saying he supports Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

S. Korea supports the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to actively participate in its implementation, he said, while calling for concerted efforts to resume bilateral high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields as soon as possible.

S. Korea believes China's concern on the THAAD issue is important, and has no intention to harm China's interests of strategic security, Moon said.

The leaders also agreed to continue their discussions next month when the South Korean president will make a trip to China for their third bilateral summit, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul's presidential office.

The meeting came after China and South Korea agreed to get their relations back on track, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on October 31, following high level talks between the two countries. Beijing and Seoul also reaffirmed their joint efforts to peacefully denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The current overseas trip is Xi's first after the 19th CPC National Congress. After attending the APEC meeting in Da Nang, he will then pay state visits to Vietnam and Laos from Sunday to Tuesday.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Week is held under the theme of "Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future."

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency