Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Han Zheng met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday and discussed issues related to bilateral ties and the improved situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Han Zheng and South Korean President Moon Jae-in [File photo: China Plus]

Han, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed Xi's greetings to Moon and Xi's wishes that the PyeongChang Winter Olympics would achieve a great success.

China and South Korea are close neighbors geographically and natural partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, their relationship has achieved development in an all-round manner, Han said.

Recalling Moon's successful state visit to China in December and his telephone conversation with Xi at the beginning of this year, Han said the two leaders had reached important consensus on developing bilateral ties as well as strengthening coordination on key international and regional issues.

Guided by the consensus of the two leaders, China is willing to work with South Korea to insist on mutual respect and support, fully embark on communication and dialogue at all levels, further stimulate exchanges and cooperation, properly handle sensitive issues, and increase mutual understanding and trust, in order to push for constant progress in bilateral relations, Han told Moon.

On the Korean Peninsula issue, Han said the situation on the peninsula is undergoing positive changes as South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) took the opportunity of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics to restart dialogue and commence cooperation. The relationship between the two sides has been improved.

China supports the conciliation and cooperation between South Korea and the DPRK, and hopes that relevant parties would meet each other half way and make joint effort to further ease tension on the peninsula and push forward the political settlement process of the peninsula issue, Han said.

For his part, Moon asked Han to convey his cordial greetings to Xi and thanked Han for attending the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

South Korea and China are important neighbors and cooperative partners and bilateral ties are now at a new starting point, said the South Korean president.

South Korea is willing to work in a positive manner with China to enhance political mutual trust and friendship, boost exchanges at all levels, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs and push forward the development of the South Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership, Moon said.

Expressing his appreciation for China's positive role in improving the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Moon said his country is willing to maintain communication and coordination with China to push forward the inter-Korean dialogue facilitated by the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, to settle the peninsula issue through peaceful means and to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity in the region.

Han was invited by Moon and Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, to attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday.