NPC Chairman Meets ROK GuestChinese leader Li Peng said on May 19 that the Chinese government pays great attention to the agreement reached between the northern and the southern parts of the Korean Peninsula on a summit meeting.He said this summit meeting will not only beneficial to the peace and stability of the peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region, but also conducive to the interest of neighboring countries. China welcomes and supports such a move. Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks in today's meeting with Kim Bong Ho, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (ROK). He said China has always held that the northern and the southern parts of the Korean Peninsula are the major parties engaged in the Korean Peninsula issue, and has supported them with practical efforts to improve relations, realize reconciliation, and peaceful reunification through direct dialogue. China is willing to play a constructive role in safeguarding peace, stability and development of the Korea Peninsula and also sincerely hopes that the summit meeting will produce positive results, Li said. Kim Bong Ho expressed appreciation over China's position over the Korea Peninsula issue and also expressed the conviction that his current visit will play an active role between the two parliaments and the two countries. Li said although barely eight years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have witnessed overall and rapid progress. The announcement by leaders of both countries in 1998 to build up a cooperative partnership in the 21st century has laid down the framework for the development of relations in the new century, he noted. China highly stresses its relations with the ROK, and treasures cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that developing Sino-ROK relations is not only in the fundamental interest of the two countries and the two peoples, but also conducive to regional peace and stability. China and ROK should continuously develop and promote their partnership based on the principle of mutual trust and economic benefit, and safeguarding peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. Kim said during the past nearly eight years, bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and cultural sectors has been productive, and contacts between parliaments of the two counties are also increasing. He said he is delighted over increasingly close contact between ROK's National Assembly and China's NPC and CPPCC. Kim arrived in Beijing earlier today at the invitation of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). |
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