President Jiang Hails Inter-Korean SummitPresident Jiang Zemin on Thursday wrote respectively to leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea to hail the success of the inter-Korean summit.In the letter to DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, Jiang said the summit itself and the achievements it has made serve as a manifestation of the long-cherished national aspiration of the DPRK people to put an end to separation and achieve national reunification at an early date. "The summit, at the same time, is also the result of the decision made by leaders of the North and the South proceeding from their fundamental national interests and with statesman's vision and wisdom. "I heartily rejoice at the complete success of the North-South summit and hereby extend my warm congratulations to General- Secretary Kim Jong Il, the Workers' Party and the DPRK government. " The Chinese president reiterated that the DPRK and South Korea are the main parties involved in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula. He also reiterated China's consistent stance to actively support the North and the South in their efforts to achieve independent and peaceful reunification through dialogues and negotiations. China will, as always, continue to work actively for the maintenance of peace and stability on the peninsula, he added. In the letter to Kim Dae-jung, Jiang said the inter-Korean summit was a major event of historical significance. The meeting produced constructive achievements and thus made valuable contributions to peace and stability on the peninsula. He also expressed his delight and extended his congratulations to Kim Dae-jung. Jiang stressed that the improvement of the North-South relations serves the fundamental interests of the two sides and the common aspiration of the Korean nation. He expressed his belief that this summit meeting will mark a good beginning of better mutual understanding and trust as well as deepened exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in various fields, leading to the eventual realization of independent and peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Kim Jong Il and Kim Dae-jung held their summit in Pyongyang from Tuesday to Thursday, the first ever between the two sides in 55 years. The two leaders late Wednesday signed a joint declaration, which calls for reconciliation and envisages eventual reunification of the Korean Peninsula. |
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