China ready to advance ties with ROK to new heights

China is ready to work with the Republic of Korea to advance their strategic cooperative partnership to new heights, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday, as the two countries marked the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

China and the ROK are friendly neighbors, Lin told a regular news conference.

Over the past 34 years, bilateral relations have developed rapidly and comprehensively across political, economic, trade and people-to-people fields, and the two countries have become closely connected strategic cooperative partners, he said.

"The facts have shown that the development of China-ROK relations conforms to the trend of the times and serves the common interests of both countries," Lin said, adding that stronger ties also contribute to regional peace and development.

Bilateral relations are continuing to improve and develop in accordance with the direction set by the two heads of state, he said.

China has always placed the ROK in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, Lin said.

Beijing is willing to work with Seoul to follow through on the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, further advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership and deliver greater benefits to both peoples, he added.