SEOUL - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday afternoon, with both sides pledging to further bilateral ties.

South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun (R) and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shake hands before their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, April 10, 2007. [Reuters]

During the meeting, the leaders vowed to strengthen strategic communication and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Special coverage: Premier Visits ROK, Japan Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will start his "ice-melting" visit to Japan on April 11.

They also agreed to make this year, which marks the 15th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and has been designated the China-South Korea Exchange Year, a turning point for better relations.

"Thanks to the joint efforts in recent years, political trust between China and South Korea has been deepened, exchange and cooperation have been expanded, and coordination in dealing with regional and global affairs has become closer," Wen said.

The ever-closer ties bring tremendous benefits to the peoples of both countries and make a significant contribution to peace and development in the Northeastern Asian region, Wen said.

Roh echoed Wen's comments, saying that through high-level cooperation and fair competition, both countries could achieve development and maintain common interests.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony of four cooperative documents.

Denuclearization goal on Korean Peninsula

Wen reaffirmed China's commitment to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, saying China sticks to its position on a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue.

Continued progress will be achieved in promoting the process of the six-party talks so long as all relevant parties bear in mind the overall interest of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region as a whole and make unremitting efforts, Wen said.

China is ready to work together with South Korea and other parties concerned to strive to realize long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia at an early date, he added.

At the talks, President Roh said China has made unremitting efforts toward the settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

In efforts to promote the process of the six-party talks, South Korea and China have enjoyed close cooperation, which has not only strengthened their bilateral ties and enhanced mutual trust but also helped accumulate experience for resolving the issues of Northeast Asia, he said.

South Korea still holds out hope for a settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, he added.

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