The visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid a courtesy call on Republic of Korea (ROK) President Kim Dae-jung on Saturday morning at the Presidential Office in Seoul.
Tang firstly congratulated on the successful co-host of the World Cup by ROK and Japan and the good behavior of the South Korean national soccer team on the World Cup arena.
He also mentioned the Friday amicable and fruitful talks with his South Korean counterpart Choi Sung-hong, saying that they both think bilateral ties have entered a new stage and the cooperative partnership relations also have been overall developed since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"The Chinese government values highly of the contributions which President Kim Dae-jung has made to the development of bilateral ties," noted Tang.
"China also attaches great importance to the relations with ROK, and is willing to enhance the good-neighborliness and friendly relations with ROK further in the new century, together with your side," he added.
ROK President Kim Dae-jung thanked for the Chinese government's endeavor in the development of bilateral ties, and welcomed Tang's visit which came amid the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ROK diplomatic ties.
On the situation in the Korea Peninsula, Kim expressed the hope that the inter-Korea talks will resume and the accords which ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have reached will come into effect.
The People of the ROK hope the inter-Korea relations will develop smoothly without any war, Kim said.
Kim also expressed his admiration for the constructive role China has played in maintaining peace in the Korea Peninsula.
Tang said: "The Chinese government appreciates the ROK's relaxed policy toward DPRK, which has gotten good results. It is a proper way that the two sides in the Korea Peninsula cooperatively resolute existing problems through dialogues, and then achieve self-determined peaceful reunification.,"
"The international society also has the responsibility to create favorable surrounding and conditions for that. And China will continue play a constructive role in sustaining peace and stability in the Korea Peninsula," noted Tang.
Tang also met with other ROK political leaders including National Assembly speaker Park Kwan-yong, and the presidential election candidate of Grand National Party Lee Hoi-chang on Saturday morning.
Tang will leave ROK Saturday afternoon after concluding his two-day visit here.
(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2002)
